Papier-mâché puppets in a workshop by Lyabi-Hauz
Paint the head of a traditional Bukhara puppet and learn to bring it to life.
- $55 per person
- 120 min
- When: Daily, by booking
A family puppet workshop a short walk from Lyabi-Hauz. The master introduces the characters of Bukhara puppet theatre and shows how papier-mâché puppets are made.
These puppets have no legs: one hand holds the head on its stick, while the thumb and index finger of the other go into the robe's sleeves as the puppet's hands. You paint your own puppet and try bringing it to life.
Puppet theatre is an old street entertainment of Central Asia: travelling puppeteers performed at bazaars and festivals, and the characters — wise men, tricksters, merchants, brides — are still recognisable today. The head is made of papier-mâché, layer upon layer of paper over a mould, then primed and painted. The puppets are dressed in ikat and suzani robes.
In the class you get a ready-made head and paint it yourself — face, brows, blush, headdress. Then the master gives a short puppetry lesson: how to hold the puppet so that it looks around, nods and gestures. It's one of the most fun things to do in Bukhara with children.
About 2 hours, up to 6 people, children from 6.
What's included
- Papier-mâché blank and paints
- Painting your own puppet
- A puppetry lesson
- Tea and sweets