How to Work a Marionette

Download Article

Co-authored by Lois Wade

Last Updated: March 10, 2025

Download Article

• Preparation
|
• Movements
|
• Packing Away
|
• Q&A
|
• Tips
|
• Things You'll Need

|Show more |Show less

Working a Marionette is a lot easier than you might think, but the basic premise is still the old "practice, practice, practice"... This article will show you a few beginner methods for your puppets, but there are many different movements to create a lifelike and entertaining performance for you to enjoy working out for yourself.

Steps

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Preparation

Download Article

1. 
   1
   Take your puppet out of the box. To do so, follow these steps (assuming you put him away using the method below):

   • Carefully, drag him out by the wooden bar (the 'control') - never by his feet!
   • Hold the control in two hands and twist it round and round to decrease the amount of spin and lower the puppet until all the strings are off the control.
   • Open the control to form a cross.
2. 
   2
   Stand above the marionette in a comfortable position. Do not stand precariously as the excitement of moving the puppet can unbalance you.
   Advertisement
3. 
   3
   Align the marionette so that the strings are not tangled together.
4. 
   4
   If you are right handed, hold the back bar of the of the control in your right hand, gripping with forefinger and thumb.
5. 
   5
   Stand him on the ground.
Advertisement

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Movements

Download Article

1. 
   1
   Bowing. Hold the back string in your left hand and lower the control. Tilting the front end of the control up at the same time the marionette will raise his arms.
2. 
   2
   Moving the hands. Pull the left front string up (raises left hand) or down (raises right hand) to move the hands. Pulling the left string up and out simultaneously will lift both hands.
3. 
   3
   Moving the legs. These work in the same way as the hands, but with the string that is attached to the legs.
4. 
   4
   Walking. Pull the leg string up and down so that the feet make a walking motion, whilst moving the marionette forward will create a simple movement to this effect.
5. 
   5
   Dancing. Dancing is great fun with a puppet, and can be done in multiple ways. One such way is to make a walking movement again, but instead of moving the control forwards, bounce it up and down. Once you have mastered this, hold the right hand and left leg string together and move them up and down, up and down. To create the best effect, tip the control from side to side as he dances to make his head tilt in time with the music.
Advertisement

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Packing Away

Download Article

1. 
   1
   When you have finished practising your puppeteering, you MUST pack your puppet away carefully.

   • Close the control.
   • Spin him round to his right until the strings are in one thick string.
   • Now, take the control in two hands and roll over and over so about 3" remain not on the control.
   • Hold his legs to lay him in the box, separated from his control by some tissue paper to prevent scratching.

Community Q&A

Search

Add New Question

• Question

  How long does it take to learn how to use a marionette? I think it is hard.

  

  Community Answer

  Well, it depends on the kind of marionette. It usually takes a week to nail a marionette but it depends on your skill. It takes dedication and hard work, so keep trying!

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

  Yes No

  Not Helpful 4 Helpful 33
• Question

  How do I make a simple marionette?

  

  Community Answer

  Check out this article on making a marionette.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

  Yes No

  Not Helpful 16 Helpful 40
• Question

  Can I use a teddy bear?

  

  T. Chinsen

  Top Answerer

  Unless the arms and legs are loose and floppy, it would be difficult to manipulate a normal teddy bear. Most jointed bears have tight joints that do not allow any motion with string attachments.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

  Yes No

  Not Helpful 6 Helpful 28

See more answers

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Advertisement

Tips

• Practice handling marionette puppets before trying them out in a show. They are very lifelike in their movements but manipulating them well takes a lot of practice and perseverance.
  Thanks

  Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• There are no "quick and easy" ways to learn. Practice really DOES make perfect.
  Thanks

  Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Name

Please provide your name and last initial

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

Advertisement

Things You'll Need

• A marionette

You Might Also Like

How to

Make a Hand Puppet

How to

Make a Sock Puppet

How to

Make a DIY Paper Dragon Puppet: 2 Easy Tutorials

How to

Create a Marionette

How to

Make Paper Puppets (with Pictures)

How to

Learn Ventriloquism

How to

Make a Paper Bag Puppet

How to

Make a Muppet Style Puppet

2 Easy DIY Finger Puppet Crafts

How to

Make Shadow Puppets

Advertisement