Adult puppeteering

Adult puppeteering

Adult puppeteering is the use of puppets in contexts aimed at adult audiences. Serious theatrical pieces can utilize puppets either for aesthetic reasons or to achieve special effects that would not otherwise be possible with human actors. In parts of the world where puppet shows have traditionally been children's entertainment, many find the notion of puppets in decidedly adult situations—for example, involving drugs, sex, or violence—to be humorous, because of the bizarre contrast it creates between subject matter and characters.

Adult puppeteering appears in many forms. In the USA and UK it is more easily found on screen. Television satire such as the UK's Spitting Image provides a strong link to the earlier traditions of Punch & Judy or Commedia dell'Arte as sources of social and political commentary. Puppetry sitcoms such as the USA series "Dinosaurs" feature puppet characters who are entertaining in themselves, not as satirical figures. Adult puppet theatre has a strong tradition in Asia and parts of Europe, and has a smaller presence in Australia, the UK and the USA. Handspan Theatre from Melbourne, Australia, toured internationally with its innovative and often surreal adult productions.

Puppeteers and companies that perform for adult audiences

* Otto Petersen
* The Bread & Puppet Theater
* In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theater
* Paul Zaloom
* Richard Bradshaw
* Ronnie Burkett
* Sergey Obraztsov
* Jeff Dunham

TV Programs

* Sam and Friends (1955-1961)
* The Muppet Show (1976-1981)
* Spitting Image (1984-1996) - ITV
* Rubbery Figures (1984-1990) - ABC Australia, Seven Network
* D.C. Follies (1987-1989)
* Les Guignols de l'Info (1988-2007) - Canal+ France
* Mystery Science Theater 3000 (1988-1999)- KTMA, Comedy Central, Sci-Fi Channel US
* The Jim Henson Hour (1989) - NBC
* Dinosaurs (1991-1994) - ABC US
* Muppets Tonight (1996-1998) - ABC US, Disney Channel
* Aliens in the Family (1996) - ABC US
* Triumph the Insult Comic Dog premiers (1997) on Late Night with Conan O'Brien - NBC
* Sifl and Olly (1997-1999) - MTV
* A Scare at Bedtime (1997-2005) - RTÉ
* The Man Show (1999) episodes - puppet porn - Comedy Central
* TV Funhouse spinoff series (2000-2001) - Comedy Central
* Greg the Bunny (2000-2002, 2005) - Manhattan Neighborhood Network, IFC, Fox, IFC
* Internet Slutts - Wally & Murk (2000-2001) - The Comedy Network
* Puppets Who Kill (2001-2005) - The Comedy Network
* Crank Yankers (2002-2007) - Comedy Central
* Chappelle's Show (2003) episode - STD puppets
* Dawn and Barry (2004) - The Comedy Channel
* The "Smile Time" episode of Angel (2004) - The WB
* Wonder Showzen (2005) - MTV
* Live Hot Puppet Chat (2005) - SRTV
* Penny the Penguin (2005-today) - Internet meme
* Las noticias del guiñol - Canal+ Spain
* Le Bébête Show (1983-1995) - TF1 France
* Décodeurs de l'Info - Belgium
* Kouklis - Russia
* Ed's Night Party (1995-today) - Citytv Canada
* Fur TV (2008-today) - MTV

Movies

* Let My Puppets Come (1976) US
* The Muppet Movie (1979) US
* The Great Muppet Caper (1981) US
* The Dark Crystal (1982) US
* The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984) US
* Gremlins (1984) US
* Krysař (1985) Czechoslovakia
* Ghoulies (1985) US
* Short Circuit (1986) US
* Labyrinth (1986) US
* Meet the Feebles (1989) NZ
* Puppet Master (1989) US
* (1990) US
* The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) US
* Muppet Treasure Island (1996) US
* (1996) US
* Muppets from Space (1999) US
* (2004) US
* Strings (2004) Denmark/Sweden/Norway/UK
* Live Freaky! Die Freaky! (2004) US
* Disaster! (2005) US
* Dante's Inferno (2007 film)

Live Performance

* "Les Poupées de Paris" (1957) by the Kroffts
* Puppetry of the Penis (1997-2005) Australia
* Avenue Q (2003- Present)
* Otto & George (ventriloquist and dummy)
* Jim Henson's Puppet Up Uncensored (2006 - present)
* Tommy Murphy's Holding the Man, a play aimed at an adult audience features some puppetry

ee also

* Puppeteering
* Adult animation
* List of stop-motion films
* Puppetry of the Penis

External links

* [http://www.kratkyfilm.com/catalogue/html/indexa.htm List of adult-oriented Czechoslovakian puppet films] (click on "adults" in the right frame)


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