Travel
Knitted Puppets in Prague
I’ve been back home in the States for two months. Re-entry has kept me busy; there’s nothing like moving to Brooklyn!
While it’s easy to marvel at my new locale, I’m still thinking fondly of my European year. In particular, I wanted to share and reflect on my final month in Prague. There, I joined nine other students to build, paint, and perform traditional Czech puppets at the Puppets in Prague Workshop.
Our hosts, Leah and Mirek Trejtnar, invited us to dive in as we traveled from Prague across the Czech Republic to learn more about Czechia’s UNESCO-recognized puppets. We visited museums, festivals, performances, and a variety of puppet shops. I found puppets with hand-knit bodies:
The classic Czech fairytale Zlatovláska inspired every character for this workshop. I designed Jiřík (Georgie), our story’s hero. This simple cook works for the evil king and embarks on a quest to find Princess Zlatovláska after birds give the evil king a piece of her golden hair.
Once I figured out Jiřík’s character & personality, this medieval fry cook came to life!
First, we had to build the puppets. We learned how to sharpen chisels, practice carving on spare bodies, and started carving the puppet heads. It began with a block of linden wood with its technical drawings traced on.
The heads were then taken to the bandsaw for rough shaping. Then it was time to carve. Don’t underestimate the chisels; I cut myself a few times, but they healed nicely. A sharp chisel is safer than a dull one!
Other master puppet carvers showed us tips and tricks to help bring characters to life. These master carvers, including Mirek, worked on iconic films and productions like The Pied Piper.
Often, a carver would show me how to carve a detail in 10 seconds, then I’d try to copy it, which would take me an hour to make it look similar. It took us at least 40 hours total over six days to carve the heads and bodies.
Once we were done carving, it was time to paint. The painting instructor helped us mix color, create tones, and add shading. I learned quickly how different it is to paint a 3D object.
Once that was done, the puppets were varnished and left to dry.
Costuming is the next step. I hadn’t sewn in ages, so I jumped right into building Jiřík’s costume. I loved making his dirty, greasy “Kiss the Cook” apron, and some hand-knit chainmail sweatbands and booties à la Richard Simmons and Monty Python.
During this time, we also built controllers, added nails, and put pieces together. It’s amazing what some leather cord, nails, and a bit of elbow grease can do!
Then rehearsals began. Puppet stage director Peter Varga taught us how to perform, act, and manipulate our puppets. We only had six days to build set pieces and props, and completely write a show from scratch. Yes, we had no script.
Welcome to devised theater. It’s how traditional Czech puppet theater operates. Notes were taken furiously as we tried to understand the direction, sound cues, and curtain calls. It was thrilling!
Once the show began, we soared like talking birds. Music, bubbles, and performing outside in a park meant a riveted audience of children and adults alike. Everyone laughed as slapstick moments came to life.
photo courtesy of Cenek Housa
What’s magical about Czech puppet theater is how the performers themselves are incorporated into the show. Kids don’t need humans to hide to suspend their disbelief. It adds a layer of complexity and magic to see these adults interact and perform with the characters themselves.
photo courtesy of Cenek Housa
Every child knew this classic Czech tale. And they couldn’t wait to meet Zlatovláska and Jiřík!
Each puppet performance we attended showed us how magical puppetry can be: from simple children’s shows to cinematic beginning-of-time dinosaur operas! (It’s truly difficult to capture that last one in words; it was transfixing.)
In the late 19th century, Czech puppetry was responsible for the preservation of the Czech language. Puppets reflect Czech life and Czech people. Once we started carving, we noticed how surrounding people would have distinctive traits well-suited for puppet faces.
Art reflects who we are, who we want to be, and what we hold dear. Sweaters do the same thing, just in a softer way.
What a fascinating article! Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for sharing your experience. It looks like you had an amazing journey. I found myself smiling as I read. I had fun!
I would love to see a video of The play and the audience reaction. What a marvelous month you had!
You made a fabulous fry cook!
What a fun article, & detailed pictures of the puppet were so interesting. The cook came out great, how creative & how I’d love to see the dinosaur-beginning-of-time opera-puppet show. Thank you!
Thank you for shining a light on this art form. I wish I had seen this when I was in the Czech Republic almost 10 years ago. Maybe it’s time to go back. 🙂
What a different theatrical experience for you, Paul! You just keep growing! Knit on, my friend.
Oh, how charming! So much joy — and such beautiful craftsmanship. My family hosted an exchange student from the Czech Republic back in 2008/9. He told us about the puppet shows he grew up with, so it was lovely to read about your backstage experience. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Oh my. What great fun! Thanks for such an uplifting way to start the day.
I LOVED this! You are so creative. Did Jirik come back to Brooklyn with you?
What a fun article! I enjoyed seeing the puppet come to life
This is fascinating and delightful! I love the puppet you made, so expressive, and adorable, well done!
How fascinating and fun! Did you have to voice the puppets in Czech? Those chainmail boots are worthy of a fry cook!
We learned some Czech words and a Czech children’s song. Thankfully most of it was slapstick and pantomime
I love this! As a painter, knitter and wood carver, this is right up my alley!
Jirik has such expressive eyes! Well done, and what fun.
This is so interesting!! Your fry cook is endearing! It’s easy to be on his side. The whole puppet-making process is very involved. Beautiful job. Thanks for sharing this.
Paul, I am constantly amazed at how ethnocentric I am. I loved your description of how the puppets come to life and reflect Czech culture. Thank you for a fascinating glimpse into this world!
Wow! How wonderful for you to have your year of learning and wonder. Sooooooo jealous. Please keep telling these stories where knitting intersects with your life experiences.
This article provided needed ! Diane
What a different theatrical experience for you, Paul! You just keep growing! Knit on, my friend.
Fascinating, especially the part about the puppetry preserved the Czech language.
I learned something new. Thanks.
So interesting. I knew nothing of Czech puppets. The carving
Is an ancient skill that adds so much to the character of the puppets. Thank you so much.
Thank you so much for your article! Not only was it very interesting to learn about the puppets, but you also inspired me to google some family history I had no idea existed! I could then pass both along to my children and grandchildren.
Thank you Paul!! I loved your puppet story and your wonderful cook. I can’t decide which I like better, the wonderful knitted chain mail or your puppet’s adorable freckles. Thank you for a delightful story. You started my morning with a big smile.