Lalka w teatrze lalek

Abstract

Theatre is a constant element of children’s and teenager’s education. But puppet theatre treated as a form of artistic dialogue conducted through a material form (puppet) seems not to be of interest to pedagogues. The aim of the author is to convince educators of the value of this specific form of theatre and of its possibilities in terms of communication with pupils. This communication takes place in three forms: through creating a spectacle in a theater lab at school; in conversations about the professional performances; in interpersonal communication. Using the relevant theatrological and anthropological research, the author analyzes the possibilities of building a theater metaphor with a puppet and – based on the analysis of theatrical reviews, the description of contemporary performances and personal theatrical observation –the author makes a review of different puppet forms and their manner of animation. She shows the huge diversity of possibilities and points out the power of stimulating the imagination of both the creator and spectator. She also draws attention to the new concept entitled “material performance” which should be understood as a kind of interpersonal dialogue between the creator and the recipient through means of the material object. On the one hand, it motivates children to be interested in the real world which is the natural human environment. It is very important in a reality dominated by new technologies and virtual worlds. On the other, this material intermediary has also therapeutic significance i.e. it allows more honest and genuine communication and thus becoming a valuable tool in the work of the educator.