The Stage and Lighting in puppetry

The stage of puppetry

Absence of well-organized stage is one of the most important features of folk theatre.Beacause folk drama is drama of the folk, for the folk,by the folk. Performers can perform in any open place,whichencourage participation of audience. However, due to the unique technique and manner of presentation of string and shadow puppet, stage is very important. The stage of puppetry is neither complex nor very big. Initially a frame is put up with a few bamboo posts. Excluding the platform side, the three other sides of the stage are coverd with colourful screen. The height of the platform from ground is about three feet. The lower and upper portion of the front side of the frame is also covered by screens leaving a space so that audience can enjoy puppets acting. String using for manipulating the puppets are always of black in colour. Black colour strings are used to create illusion on audience mind that the puppets make their movement, with their own accords. The backdrop is always black. The narrators and musicians take their seats on one corner in front of the stage. Manipulators of puppets stand behind the screen of the stage. The manipulator is known as “Sutradhar”. The success of the puppet play solely depends on smooth movement of puppets. It is the game of Sutradhar’s skilled fingers. However, the technique of manipulation of every form of puppet is different and needed manipulator’s skillfulness. The puppeteers should also have quality of acting and he should involve himself very attentively with the character while manipulating. As for example, during the scene of dance, manipulator should also take the rhythm in mind and then only he will able to make puppets dance perfectly.

The musicians take their seat on a corner in front of the stage. However, modern troupe of todays uses three-story or two-story stage for performance. Because they are adopting new techniques where figure size puppets are used. Open place is left in front of stage for musicians and the operators of sound systems. That part is surrounds by screen and it hides musicians from audience.

Lighting in puppetry

Lighting plays an important role in every form of drama. It is said that, light also acts like other live actors. Folk drama is also not exception of it.

As dramas are mainly performed in night time, using of light is unavoidable. Traditional source of lighting such as Ariya, Mahata and handmade torch were used in puppetry.

“Traditional lighting system helps in protecting graveness and holiness of acting”^[1] .

Traditional torch was made by soaking cotton in mustard oil. In some cases a hollow cut on guard, filled with mustard oil, soaked cotton on it, and flame it for lighting. In addition, earthen lamp fueled by ghee was used for lighting in puppetry. Now a days,colourful electric lights have replaced such traditional source of light. Even some sequences of modern troupes are fully depended on nice workmanship of light. Light gives perfectness to different sequences of play and helps in creating appropriate dramatic mood.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Sharma Satyendra Nath “Poramporagot Prasya Natyabhinay”Gauhati University,1970,p:60