Discover the power of applied puppetry
Uncover how puppetry can be a powerful tool for self-discovery, difficult conversations and meaningful transformation.I’d love to show you what’s possible.
What is applied puppetry?
Applied puppetry is the use of puppetry as a purposeful tool — not for performance or entertainment, but for real human transformation. It is not about performing, nor do you need any prior experience or creative skills. The puppet does the work; I hold the space; you find the answers.
In applied puppetry, the puppet becomes an extension of the self. It creates a safe distance between you and the difficult thing you need to say, feel or explore. Through the puppet, people find it easier to express what words alone cannot reach.
Who benefits from applied puppetry?
Applied puppetry is for therapists, life coaches, work coaches, organisational facilitators, universities, and professionals navigating difficult conversations, emotional blocks, or complex challenges. It helps with:
- Difficulty expressing emotions.
- Fear of difficult conversations.
- Feeling stuck or blocked.
- Inability to communicate clearly in groups.
- The need for psychological safety in workshops and therapy settings.
It is used in therapeutic settings to process emotion and trauma, in educational environments to support learning and communication, in organisational workshops to unlock dialogue and solve problems, and in community spaces to give voice to those who feel unheard.
Applied puppetry in action
Applied puppetry works across many settings and meets people wherever they are:
- In schools and colleges: It helps children and young people, including those who are neurodiverse or facing emotional difficulties, express what they struggle to say out loud. Alongside therapists and educators, puppets create a safe, playful bridge to difficult conversations.
- In universities and business workshops: It unlocks creative thinking and collaboration. Each puppet is manipulated by three people together, requiring trust, communication, and shared storytelling — skills that transform how teams work.
- In entrepreneurship programmes: It helps professionals step outside their own thinking, find fresh perspectives, and discover solutions they already held within themselves.
- In community spaces: It simply brings people together to play, connect, and tell the stories they wouldn’t normally tell.
"The puppet creates a safe space, a magical distance from our fears, allowing us to explore the difficult things we usually avoid."
Mahtab — Applied Puppetry Practitioner