Hand to hand: the dynamic situation of applied puppetry

This article concerns the uses and purposes of puppetry in education and community co texts. The paper engages in debates about the role of the puppeteer with groups in workshops. Reference will be made to some examples of practice and personal reflections on events, workshops and projects. The article will connect with the themes of power, globalization, ethics and applied theatre. The main question considered will be; where do we find power in the practice of applied puppetry? For many years now I have been using puppetry in a number of unusual settings to engage groups in work that can be considered applied puppetry. This work has had many different and surprising results in workshops. I am describing this work critically and developing an advanced study of puppetry as part of applied theatre for puppeteers and academics. These aims connect with my PhD thesis, entitled Speaking the unspeakable. How can puppetry be engaged asa tool in applied theatre practice?