Marc W. Kohler

 marcwkohler@aol.com

 marcwkohler.com

I have worked with puppets in education and therapy for over 40 years. The work is based on the idea that the puppet is realized without any preconceived idea before starting the manufacturing. This creates a situation where the puppeteer must “communicate” with the puppet, and this “communication” establishes a powerful and reliable connection that offers information about the puppeteer, a resource for the puppeteer to write biographies, family trees, personalities, sketches, plays and even short novels. I asked the puppet makers if they would like to do a “new” character, and they insist with a resounding NO! Hand puppets have been buried under the wave of moving puppets that began 40 years ago. The hand puppet, however, gives us the best way to connect with a person’s power to create without any pressure or judgment. Too often puppets are simply used to recreate existing plays, folk tales or historical plays. It does nothing to trigger the creativity that my method does. A child with special non-verbal needs makes a puppet, and for the first time ever, she makes sounds for the puppet to talk! The staff were shocked, as the only verbalization the staff had ever heard were outbursts of anger. From this experience, they were able to help him become verbal! Too often puppets are simply used to recreate existing plays, folk tales or historical plays. It does nothing to trigger the creativity that my method does. A child with non-verbal special needs makes a puppet, and for the first time ever, she makes sounds for the puppet to talk! The staff were shocked, as the only verbalization the staff had ever heard were outbursts of anger. From this experience, they were able to help him become verbal! Too often puppets are simply used to recreate existing plays, folk tales or historical plays. It does nothing to trigger the creativity that my method does. A child with non-verbal special needs makes a puppet, and for the first time ever, she makes sounds for the puppet to talk! The staff were shocked, as the only verbalization the staff had ever heard were outbursts of anger. From this experience, they were able to help him become verbal! it makes sounds for the puppet to talk! The staff were shocked, as the only verbalization the staff had ever heard were outbursts of anger. From this experience, they were able to help him become verbal! it makes sounds for the puppet to talk! The staff were shocked, as the only verbalization the staff had ever heard were outbursts of anger. From this experience, they were able to help him become verbal!

Geographical area of ​​work: Pawtucket, United States

Work areas: Educational setting, Therapeutic setting, Social/developmental work

Target: I work with children and adults in all situations. From 1970 to 1993, with the artists of the Atelier des marionnettes we made more than 25,000 hand puppets in schools, libraries, centers for adults and children.

Languages ​​spoken: English