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<\/p>\nStephen Foster, from East Kilbride, is among just a small number of people in the UK still making traditional wooden puppets.<\/p>\n
Marionette maker Stephen Foster in his workshop.(Image: Katielee Arrowsmith \/ SWNS)<\/p>\n
One of the last remaining marionette puppet makers in the UK says the craft is vital to keep theatre alive.<\/a><\/p>\n Stephen Foster, 47, is one of only as few as six people making the puppets<\/a> in Britain – with the art officially recognised as endangered.<\/p>\n He made his first puppet during a woodworking class in high school,<\/a> after spotting a pattern for a marionette in an old book.<\/p>\n Stephen went on to study theatre in college, where he focused on puppetry – and met a mentor, who taught him the ins and outs of the craft.<\/p>\n Over the years, Stephen has had various jobs – often in the theatre – but has maintained a side-job as a puppet maker, hoping to keep the craft alive for future generations.<\/p>\n But the trade is now at risk, with an recent estimate from Heritage Crafts suggesting that there are only between 6-20 people in the UK who either work full-time or part-time in the trade.<\/p>\n Stephen Foster, 47, is one of only as few as six people making the puppets in Britain(Image: Katielee Arrowsmith \/ SWNS)<\/p>\n Stephen of East Kilbride,<\/a> Scotland, said: “The first time I made a marionette was at high school, when we had a woodworking class in fifth year.<\/p>\n “We could choose whatever we wanted to make.<\/p>\n “There was an old book by a marionette maker called Waldo Lanchester, and he had a pattern on the back of it to make a puppet.<\/p>\n “I redid it when I met my mentor when I went to college, and made it a bit lighter and more flexible, and then continued to make them on and off after that.”<\/p>\n Stephen can take several weeks to a month to create a puppet, depending on how flexible or detailed it needs to be.<\/p>\n Often, he uses the puppets himself in various workshops or performances, but has been known to craft custom pieces for various puppeteers and collectors across the country.<\/p>\n Marionette maker Stephen Foster in his workshop with one of his creations – Brutus the dog(Image: Katielee Arrowsmith \/ SWNS)<\/p>\n “The first part of the process is finding out what the character is and what it’s going to look like, so you design the visuals of it,” Stephen said.<\/p>\n “Then you’ve got to find out what it’s got to do, because there’s no point in making something that looks really nice but can’t move well – or concentrating on the walk when in reality it’s going to be static.<\/p>\n “It can be a long process, and especially with marionettes, a bit of trial and error, because balance is so important with them.<\/p>\n “I did some for an exhibition – they were designs based on real ballet costumes, so I had to interpret the costumes so you could recognise them from the original designs.<\/p>\n “I don’t know of the ones I’ve sold on that are still in use, but some of the early ones that I’ve made 25 years ago, I’ve still got working.<\/p>\n “It’s important to make the puppets good from a technical point of view.<\/p>\n “I look at them like instruments in a theatre – you’ve got to make them perform properly. They’ve got to be robust; they’ve got to last.<\/p>\n “You don’t generally get duff musical instruments in orchestras – they’re all good quality.<\/p>\n “It’s the same with the puppets. They’ve got to be of a standard so that they perform properly and the performer can get everything out of them.”<\/p>\n Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!<\/p>\n Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.<\/p>\n You’ll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.<\/p>\n No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.<\/p>\n All you have to do is click here<\/a>, select ‘Join Community’ and you’re in!<\/p>\n We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don\u2019t like our community, you can check out any time you like.<\/p>\n To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose ‘exit group’.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1773998794_642_0_One-of-last-marionette-puppet-makers-says-the-craft-is-vital-to-future-of-theatre.jpg\")
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