Adult puppeteering is the use of puppets in contexts aimed at adult audiences. Serious theatrical pieces can use puppets, either for aesthetic reasons, or to achieve special effects that would otherwise be impossible with human actors. In parts of the world where puppet shows have traditionally been children's entertainment, many find the notion of puppets in decidedly adult situations—for example, involving drugs, sex, profanity, or violence—to be humorous, because of the bizarre contrast it creates between subject matter and characters.
Adult puppeteering appears in many forms. In the US and UK it is more easily found on screen. Television satire such as the UK's Spitting Image provides a strong link to the earlier traditions of Punch and Judy or Commedia dell'Arte as sources of social and political commentary. Puppetry sitcoms such as the US series Dinosaurs feature puppet characters who are entertaining in themselves, not as satirical figures. Adult puppet theatre has a strong tradition in Asia and parts of Europe, and has a smaller presence in Australia, the UK and the US. Handspan Theatre from Melbourne, Australia, toured internationally with its innovative and often surreal adult productions.
Puppeteers and companies that perform for adult audiences Richard Bradshaw The Bread & Puppet Theater Ronnie Burkett Nina Conti Jeff Dunham Ed the Sock Jim Henson In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theater Lisa Sturz; Red Herring Puppets Sergey Obraztsov Otto Petersen Paul Zaloom Nikolai Zykov Randy Feltface Thalias Kompagnons Manual Cinema
Television programs Sam and Friends (1955–61) - WRC-TV The Muppet Show (1976-1981) - ITV (UK), Syndication (US) Spitting Image (1984–96, 2020-21) - ITV (1984–96), Britbox (2020-21) Rubbery Figures (1984–90) - ABC Australia, Seven Network D.C. Follies (1987–89) Les Guignols de l'Info (1988–2018) - Canal+ France Mystery Science Theater 3000 (1988–99, 2017)- KTMA-TV, Comedy Central, Syfy, Netflix The Jim Henson Hour (1989) - NBC Dinosaurs (1991–94) - ABC Muppets Tonight (1996-1998) - ABC (1996), Disney Channel (1997-1998) Aliens in the Family (1996) - ABC Lost on Earth (1997) - USA Network Triumph the Insult Comic Dog (1997) on Late Night with Conan O'Brien - NBC Sifl and Olly (1997–99) - MTV A Scare at Bedtime (1997–2005) - RTÉ The Man Show (1999) episodes - puppet porn - Comedy Central Farscape (1999–2003) - Sci-Fi Channel TV Funhouse spin-off series (2000–01) - Comedy Central Greg the Bunny (2000–02, 2005) - Manhattan Neighborhood Network, IFC, Fox Puppets Who Kill (2002–06) - The Comedy Network Crank Yankers (2002–07) - Comedy Central, MTV2 Chappelle's Show (2003) episode - STD puppets The Bronx Bunny Show (2003/07) - Channel 4, Starz! "Smile Time", an episode of Angel (2004) - The WB Wonder Showzen (2005) - MTV Live Hot Puppet Chat (2005) - SRTV Las noticias del guiñol - Canal+ Spain Le Bébête Show (1983–95) - TF1 France Polskie Zoo (1991–93) - TVP 1 Poland Куклы (1994-2002) - NTV Russia Ed's Night Party (1995-2010) - Citytv Canada 31 Minutos (2003-2005, 2014) - Televisón Nacional de Chile, TV Chile Fur TV (2008) - MTV The Podge and Rodge Show (2006–2009)- RTÉ Mr. Meaty (2006-2009) - Nickelodeon, CBC Television Me and My Monsters (2010-2011) - Network Ten, CBBC, Nickelodeon Monster Warriors (2006-2008) - YTV, Jetix Mongrels (2010) - BBC Three - UK Warren the Ape (2010) - MTV Don't Hug Me I'm Scared (2011-2016, 2022) - YouTube, Channel 4 Crash & Bernstein (2012-2014) - Disney Channel, Disney XD Yonderland (2013-2016) - Sky UK The Muppets (2015-2016) - ABC Newzoids (2015–16) - ITV The Gorburger Show (2017) - Comedy Central Massive Monster Mayhem (2017-2018) - Nickelodeon, TeenNick, Family Channel The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance (2019) - Netflix Smiling Friends (Puppet Version) (2024) - Adult Swim
Films Let My Puppets Come (1976) US The Dark Crystal (1982) US Gremlins (1984) US The Pied Piper (1985) Czechoslovakia Ghoulies (1985) US Short Circuit (1986) US Labyrinth (1986) US Short Circuit 2 (1988) US Meet the Feebles (1989) NZ Puppet Master (1989) US Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990) US Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie (1996) US Being John Malkovich (1999) US Little Nicky (2000) US Team America: World Police (2004) US Strings (2004) Denmark/Sweden/Norway/UK Live Freaky! Die Freaky! (2004) US Demon Days Live (2006) UK Dante's Inferno (2007) US The Happytime Murders (2018) Abruptio (2023) Strays (2023) Buddy (2026)
Live performance Puppetry of the Penis (1997–2005) Australia Avenue Q (2003–Present) Otto & George (ventriloquist and dummy) Jim Henson's Puppet Up! Uncensored (2006–present) Tommy Murphy's Holding the Man, a play aimed at an adult audience features some puppetry
See also Puppeteer Adult animation List of stop-motion films Kenya Institute of Puppet Theatre (KIPT)
References
External links List of adult-oriented Czechoslovak puppet films