The Roadmap Report

B2+ Unit 1: The puppet maker Corresponds with Lesson 1A

BEFORE YOU WATCH

1 Work in groups. To what extent do you

agree with the following statement?
Puppet shows are just for children.
2 Read the article. Label photos A–C
with the names of the performances.
A
Not just for kids
Must-see puppet shows
around the world
LIZZIE FLETCHER | 21 March 2020
Nowadays, puppetry is largely thought of as a form of
children’s entertainment, but for thousands of years it
was a prominent form of storytelling for people of all ages.
So, to celebrate World Puppet Day, here’s our pick of
unmissable shows from across the globe.

Opera dei Pupi, Sicily

Sicilian puppet theatre, which uses wooden, string puppets to tell stories
of medieval knights and infamous robbers, started around the beginning
of the 19th century and quickly became popular, especially among the
working class. The puppet theatres were mostly family businesses which
competed to produce the most spectacular puppets and shows. Some
performances took place over several evenings and were large social
events for local people. Although the Opera dei Pupi isn’t as popular among
Sicilians nowadays, there are still several puppet theatres in cities like
Palermo and Catania and they’re well worth a visit.

Wayang Kulit, Bali

Wayang Kulit, or shadow puppetry, is traditional in some parts of
Indonesia and is believed to have arrived in Bali around the 1st century CE.
The puppets are flat leather figures with movable arms and legs controlled
by sticks. The shows are created using candles to cast shadows on a paper
screen and performances usually take place at night. The shadow puppets
tell long Hindu stories mixed with other tales of romance and adventure
B and performances can often last several hours. You can watch a Wayang
Kulit show in most towns and villages in Bali.

Mua Roi Nuoc, Vietnam

Mua Roi Nuoc is a type of traditional Vietnamese puppetry performed in
waist-deep water. Originally, the shows, which tell traditional Vietnamese
folk stories and tales of rural life, were performed in flooded rice fields but
nowadays, performances take place in ponds or specially-built pools. The
puppets are made from wood varnished to make them water-proof and
are controlled by sticks underneath the water. The puppeteers are hidden
behind a screen which gives the impression that the puppets are walking
on water. You can catch a Mua Roi Nuoc performance in most towns and
cities in Vietnam.

3 Read the article again. Are the sentences true (T) or false (F)?
1 The Opera dei Pupi was particularly popular with the wealthy.
2 The puppets in the Opera dei Pupi were made from leather.
3 Some Opera dei Pupi shows lasted longer than a day.
4 Puppeteers use strings to control Balinese shadow puppets.
5 Balinese shadow puppets are two-dimensional.
6 Wayang Kulit uses candles to make shadows on a white curtain.
7 Mua Roi Nuoc performances usually take place in rice fields.
8 The puppets are covered in a substance to protect them.

PHOTOCOPIABLE © Pearson Education Limited 2020

 The Roadmap Report
B2+ Unit 1: The puppet maker Corresponds with Lesson 1A

6 Watch the video again. Complete the

WHILE YOU WATCH
sentences with no more than three
words or a number.
4 Watch the video and answer the questions.
1 Many people think that puppetry is a
1 Where is Will visiting?
type of
2 What is Judith’s job? that’s only for children.
3 How have people’s opinions of puppetry changed in recent years? 2 Holding a puppet for long periods can
4 What types of puppets does Judith make? be for
5 Where do the puppeteers at The Little Angel Theatre perform? a puppeteer.
6 How does Judith feel when she sees her puppets come to life? 3 Puppetry is becoming popular in
shows
5 a Work in pairs. Choose the correct answers (a, b or c). and large theatre performances.
1 What does Will say stories are a part of? 4 As well as small puppets, Judith makes
a our culture b our heritage c our history for
2 Which part of the theatre does Will visit first? interactive shows.
a the box office b the stage c the workshop 5 Puppeteers pull a
3 In addition to movement, what do puppet makers need to consider? to control the magpies’ heads.
a materials b shape c numbers of puppeteers 6 People can write down their
4 What does the magpie usually look out of? and put them inside
a a letterbox b a nest c a tree the magpies’ letterboxes.
5 How many purpose-built puppet theatres are there in London? 7 No other theatre in the UK has a
a one b two c three
puppet bridge.
6 Where do puppeteers stand to control the long-string puppets?
8 Judith describes the feeling of seeing
a on the stage b behind the stage c on the puppet bridge
her puppets on stage as
7 What type of puppet is Arabesque?
.
a a finger puppet b a hand puppet c a string puppet
8 Which adjective does Will use to describe Arabesque? 7 a Work in pairs. Will says that puppetry
a lifelike b hopeless c realistic has been given a new lease of life by
puppet makers like Judith. What do you
b Watch the video again to check your answers. think this means?

b Have you ever given anything a new

lease of life? Has anything given you
a new lease of life?

AFTER YOU WATCH

8 Work in groups. Discuss the questions.

1 Has the video changed your opinion of
puppetry?
2 Does your country have a tradition of
puppetry?
3 Are there any famous puppets in your
country?
4 What other types of story-telling
traditions are there in your country?

9 a Think of a traditional story from your

country. Make notes about:
• the plot
• the characters
• the setting

b Work in pairs. Tell your partner your

story. Use your notes to help you.

PHOTOCOPIABLE © Pearson Education Limited 2020