The Internal Conflict of Language: Puppetry and Object Theatre

The Internal Conflict of Language: Puppetry and Object Theatre

Being constantly inspired by authors such a Haruki Murakami, Neil Gaiman and Rowling it's no wonder that I find myself lost within fantastical worlds - where universes are developed within the imagination of the writer and articulated through words alone. I admit that I often find myself depending entirely on my own mind, my own imagination to ensure that I can escape my social anxieties and my constant state of fear and panic. This, to me, is why language is so fascinating; the simple act of talking and when verbal communication isn't possible, it's that what takes it's place that intrigues me.

Below [images 1, 2 and 3] is an example of just this - what happens in the void between noise [spoken word] and silence.

The Boy with Tape on His Face: image 1

The Boy with Tape on His Face: image 2

The Boy with Tape on his Face: image 3

I like to think that through performance there is a possibility to bring all types of people together to share a moment, an experience. 'The Boy with Tape on his Face', a performance is described as comedy however for me witnessing the performances, especially when I first set eyes on this show, it is quite challenging for me emotionally. As I grew up with an Autistic brother who could be compared to this man - mute and unable to speak, with only bodily movement and gesture to articulate his emotion and feeling. In this moment of watching this performer move and manipulate objects I find myself viewing puppetry and object theatre as a possible way of communication for everyone and anyone. Of course, it could be argued that puppetry has and always will be yet another way of communication. But for the sake of commenting on this particular performance I'd view this type of performance as a way in particular for disabled or impaired individuals to express the internal struggle, step outside the barrier of uttered words. This method of speaking through an object or puppet could potentially make it possible to alleviate some of the tension that I personally know that mental illness and disability creates.