Book on Carving a Marionette

Carve a marionette by John Roberts.

At last, after over a year’s work, my book is available to buy.
Only a few hundred copies are bring printed, so do not delay ordering.

This is a step-by-step guide on how to carve a wooden marionette.
Detailed instructions, illustrations and photographs show the design, carving, jointing and stringing of a human-shaped marionette. The aim is for the reader to make a beautiful puppet that works really well. The puppet is made using traditional, tried and tested materials and techniques that can be used to make different sizes, styles and types of puppet. Making a carved puppet in this way is enjoyable, challenging and rewarding.

The book covers:

  • Principles of designing a wooden marionette.
  • What tools and materials are needed.
  • How to use chisels safely and get them super-sharp.
  • What woods to use.
  • How to refine and paint the puppet, put it on strings and bring it to life.
  • Ideas on costume, hair and eyes.

It is a book to use in a workshop. 

It has:

  • Thick paper pages in a 2-ring binding, so the pages will lie flat when opened, and can be removed for easy use. You can add your own pages of notes.
  • A hard cover and spine, so it can be put on a bookshelf without collapsing. Cover size: about 25cm x 20cm (10 inches x 8 inches).
  • 180 pages with 670 black and white photos, 14 colour photos and 78 drawings.
  • Page size is just over A5 landscape, which is a good size to fit on a bench.

I have tried to keep the cost down, but the numbers of pages have increased from 150 to 180, the paper has been increased to be a heavier page to make it robust enough for workshop use, the cover has grown in size and there are a few pages in colour. I am pleased with the end result. I hope you will be too.
I have been wanting to write this book for around 30 years and at last it is done!
I wish I had had a book like this when I started making puppets.
John Roberts.


John is renowned as a skilled maker of finely crafted puppets, with a particular interest in marionettes. For ten years he was a director at the famous Little Angel Theatre in London, touring around the world performing at festivals and seeing the best contemporary and traditional puppetry. In 1986 he became the first non-Chinese person to train in making and performing in China at the amazing Quanzhou Puppet Theatre. He is director/founder of Devon-based puppet troupe PuppetCraft.
For over 30 years John has taught puppet carving to adults.
Past students say: “An inspirational teacher… Most enjoyable…Excellent course…This man knows his onions…”


Cost: £40 + post & packaging.

Post & packaging:

  • UK: £8.
  • Europe, including Rep of Ireland: £18.
  • USA, Canada, South America, Africa, Asia, Australia or New Zealand: £22.  

Multi copies: if you want more than one book posted to the same address, please get in touch so I can work out the cheapest postage. admin@puppetcraft.co.uk


Book to be picked up from PuppetCraft, 1 Venton Oak Cottages, Dartington, Totnes, Devon, TQ9 6DW. (Email to make arrangement to pick up: admin@puppetcraft.co.uk) £40.





Book posted to UK: £40 + £8 p&p= £48. Postage takes about 3 to 6 working days. Signed for.





Book posted to Europe, including Rep of Ireland: £40 + £18 p&p= £58. Postage usually takes about 5 working days. The parcel is tracked and needs to be signed for. 
* PLEASE NOTE: This does not include any payment of import tax or duty that you might be charged.

Do check how much this additional cost is before ordering!


Book posted to USA, Canada, South America, Africa, Asia, Australia or New Zealand: £40 + £28 p&p= £68.
Postage usually takes about 5 working days. The parcel is tracked and needs to be signed for.
* PLEASE NOTE: This does not include any payment of import tax or duty that you might be charged.
I will use a courier servive for posting to South America and South Africa: some couriers charge an extra handling fee.

Do check how much this additional cost is before ordering!





I will post the book to you within 1 week of you placing your order.
You will be sent an email notifying you of the expected delivery date.

Comments are closed.