"This paper explores the characteristics of the puppet which can be utilized to generate critical thinking and informed choices in a troubled society with reference to projects of historical and contemporary importance. As an animated performance object the puppet has an imagined life which enables ... an unusual freedom of expression so that controversial social and political ideas and conventions may be challenged. As a dual-natured performance object the puppet has an extraordinary license to criticize and mock by means of satire and parody. These qualities offer artists as activists remarkable opportunities to create entertainment aimed at enhancing social and political awareness and transformation while conscientising audiences at the same time." (Abstract) more

"Theatre has become a prominent tool in the extensive struggle to address social problems in Africa, and it is fairly logical that puppets - as part of the traditional forms of dramatic expression of many African countries - would surface in theatre for social change. A variety of reasons are given ... by theatre practitioners for their choosing puppetry to do this. This paper analyses the reasons given by some of the most prominent practitioners in Africa as a developing continent and the puppet's abilities to act as an efficient code to represent and transmit messages directed toward social change." (Page 1) more