Bloomsbury presents Puppetry: A Backstage Guide, written and read by Toby Olié.

From the creator of some of the world's most iconic puppetry shows comes this National Theatre Backstage Guide to the craft.

With a focus on the processes within each stage of creation and the key roles involved, the book offers insights into:

the benefits of using puppetry in your performance;

how to research and design your puppets;

how to perform with a puppet, from the technical considerations to character acting;

how to maintain your puppet and even repair it during a production;

how to pursue a career in puppetry

Drawing on both his experience working at the National Theatre on productions such as War Horse and Pinocchio, the author supplements his own know-how with contributions from other notable figures in puppetry, such as Fred Davis, Daisy Beattie, Audrey Brisson and Sarah Wright.

This is a unique opportunity to learn the principles of puppetry from someone who has worked extensively in the field across theatre, musicals, opera and dance. C 2026 Toby Olié P 2026 Bloomsbury Publishing PLC