1. A common question we receive is, "What is the difference between a puppet and a marionette?" Marionettes are simply jointed puppets worked with strings rather than directly with hands.
2. Because marionettes are controlled from above, it is possible to create magical, lifelike performances since humans are seemingly removed from the stage.
3. By twisting the handle side to side with the right rhythm and moving your arm forward, you can make your marionette walk across the scene or stage.
4. By twisting the handle side to side while standing in one place, you'll see you're marionette dancing!
5. Tangled strings are inevitable when working with marionettes. Many have detachable string mechanisms to make untangling a much easier job.
6. Marionettes are also known as string puppets. They usually have nine strings, attached to each leg, hand, shoulder, ear, and at the base of the back.
7. Some advanced marionettes have additional strings, which can be used to create precise movements that accurately reproduce lifelike actions.
8. The predecessors to marionettes actually date back 4000 years to ancient Egypt, where puppets made of clay and ivory have been unearthed in tombs.
9. Puppets and marionettes were common in ancient Greece and Rome as well. They became hugely popular during the Renaissance and to this day remain a timeless favorite for imaginative play.
