Puppets bring stories to life

Sixteen buckets of wallpaper paste, about 20 litres of paint, and piles of newspaper and cardboard.

That's what it took for St Mary's School pupils in Blenheim to make the 110 papier-mache puppets on show for parents and fellow pupils yesterday.

Pupils performed their own versions of popular stories such as Aladdin, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas and Jack and the Beanstalk using the life-size puppets they made.

Art teacher Denise Moran said it took about two terms to make the puppets, working with each class for an hour a week. Many of them were a combined effort by several pupils.

The performances were about movement and teamwork, as most of the children had to work together to be the arms of a puppet and to build their confidence on stage, she said.

"[The puppets] are a prop to help build confidence and think about their stagecraft – using their voice, expression and movement."

Thirty of the best puppets, chosen by teachers, will be exhibited at the Wisheart Room at the Marlborough Civic Theatre during the Primary Schools Music Festival on September 26-29, along with art from other schools.

SIMON WONG

Last updated 13:02 15/09/2011

DEREK FLYNN/Marlborough Express

In character: St Mary's School pupils Abella Yuen, left, and Milly Burfoot work together as the arms of their Mrs Grinch puppet, one of 110 made by pupils during the past two terms.