DP Theatre - Research Presentation (first assessment 2024): Karagöz shadow puppetry, Turkey

Starting with an overview of traditions of theatre in Turkey, Metin And moves on to a thorough investigation of Karagöz, Turkish shadow theatre named after its protagonist: Its origins and development, the techniques involved in making of the figures and props, detailed studies of the stock characters and plots, and the form’s function as political comment in the Ottoman Empire, ending with an account of shadow theatre’s decline and later influence in the Westernizing Turkey. This revised edition includes full-colour reproductions of figures found in the rich Karagöz archive of Yapı Kredi Museum, as well as an appendix on the Turkish puppet and marionette theatre written by Metin And, the full text of a Karagöz play, and an interview with one of the last Karagöz performers in Turkey.

Puppets have existed in one form or another in nearly every culture throughout human history. In Puppetry: A World History, author Eileen Blumenthal offers an overview of puppetry, examining the unique nature and abilities of puppets and the countless roles they have played in societies across the globe. Puppets are incredibly diverse, reflecting the varied cultures, environments, and often eccentric personalities of their creators. Blumenthal draws on examples from an astonishing array of puppeteers and performances, as well as works of art and historical artifacts to give readers a view of this intricate world. (Link is to WorldCat.)

A guide to the design, construction and manipulation and presentation of shadow puppets, considered by many to be the oldest puppet theatre tradition. This work explains traditional shadow play techniques, together with modern materials and methods and recent explorations into theatre of shadows. It also includes photographs. (Link is to WorldCat.)