DIY Shadow Puppet Theater

Courtney Guy
6 days ago
2 min read

Updated: 4 days ago

I finally got around to making a shadow puppet theater that can actually hold up. I’ve made them before using cardboard and wax paper, but the wax paper was way too thin and it didn’t stand a chance against the wear and tear of my kids. This time, I wanted something sturdier that would last longer and still be simple enough to make at home. I don’t like projects that take forever or require a bunch of supplies I need to go out and buy, and I definitely don’t have the patience for anything complicated, so I kept this one easy and used mostly what we already had.

Everything I used was already in the house except for the clear plastic poster board, which I grabbed from Michaels. For the main structure, I used a fruit box from Costco, and I liked it because it’s much sturdier than regular cardboard. If you don’t have one, a standard cardboard box works just fine. I also used a shoe box as a platform to give it more height and a sturdy place for the puppets to sit.

Materials Used

A box
Extra cardboard
A shoe box (for the base)
Wood glue
Craft glue
Black paint
Clear plastic poster board (for the screen)

Step 1: Measure and cut the opening

First, I measured a rectangle on the bottom of the box where I wanted the stage to be. Once I had it measured out, I cut it out using a craft knife.

Step 2: Attach the theater to the Base

Next, I glued the box onto the shoe box so the shadow puppets would have a sturdy surface to sit on while we used them.

Step 3: Add the curtain frame

Then I cut out cardboard pieces to create a curtain frame at the top and bottom of the theater opening. This part isn’t required, but it makes it look more like a real puppet theater.

Step 4: Paint it black

After everything was glued together, my kids painted the entire theater black. Painting it black helps the shadows look cleaner and darker once the light is on.

Step 5: Add the screen

Once the paint was dry, I measured and cut a piece of clear plastic poster board to fit the opening. Then I stapled it into place to create the screen.

Time to Use It

Once everything was complete, we turned off the lights, grabbed a flashlight, and had our own screen free movie night with shadow puppets.

Shadow Puppets

If you’re making your own theater, you can:

Download this Free Printable Ocean Themed Set

Or shop my shadow puppet sets if you want themed puppets ready to go.

Safari Shadow Puppet

$21.00

Buy Now

The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe Shadow Puppets

$23.00