Tips on Building a Paper Toy Theater or mini stage

[@thenoblepoptart]

making a videogame that’s inspired by antique paper theatre. the dolls are good for sprites in-game and don’t require animation, and there are established artistic and theatric conventions that translate well to digital, like the sound of an audience clapping when you complete the level, gasping at danger/drama, ETC…

[@stormbowman7148]

Great video. That is the proscenium from the Royal Danish Theatre in Copenhagen. The text "Ei blot til Lyst" means "Not only for entertainment". The phrase was put there as a reminder of the moral and educational role of the theatre. The curtain represents the Acropolis in Athens. It is one of the oldest theatre curtains in existence and was painted in 1874.

[@RichardMerrill3Hawk]

Thanks for making this! Preserving ideas from our childhoods (I'm old too) and inspiring newer, younger creative minds. The magnets and subfloor are genius, and the lead weights could be replaced with hex nuts from the hardware store. I love the color-coded bags. I used to be a professional puppeteer, and appreciate all the tricks you use to keep track of things. Big appreciation!

[@enaudeni]

Wow, beautiful theater build. I am 43 and never even heard of paper theater before today. I stumbled on this as I was looking for an automata theater (which I haven't yet found and don't think I will) and found this gem. I dabble with electronic so could incorperate lighting effects, automated scene change, etc.... Thank you for sharing this I absolutely love it. Now that I have kids of my own I am going to introduce this tradition of paper theather to them.

[@tegt195]

Duane, I hope you will share your electronic ideas with sound and lighting. I think that would definately be a plus!!

[@VetsrisAuguste]

That was awesome! Thanks for posting this. I’ve been dreaming of making a theater for years. This was very helpful for visualizing the structure and function. It’s clearly more doable than I thought. Now I know I can do it too. I love it. Thanks again for sharing.

[@kimberlyward4415]

I’ve been searching for ideas for how to build a paper theater. Thank you! This is great, and I love that you showed us the side... the subfloor is brilliant!

[@sandrabell6515]

I hope you build...they really are amazing!

[@diamondgoldsilver9899]

OKAY BUT LIKE I NEED THIS IN MY LIFE RIGHT NOW

[@AlexAndOlmsted]

Really great tour of the theater. Love that magnet/subfloor solution to move the characters around. Thanks for sharing!

[@emmajoerichard]

Thank you Sandra for posting your video. I used to play with one of these with a friend for hours. It belonged to my friend’s grandparents and your video has inspired me to make my own. Thank you again Richard from the UK

[@tegt195]

Richard, hey, If I can do it, anyone can. Good luck. They are a lot of fun, especially when you get the kids to come over!

[@TheNickPenney]

So neat! I wish more children played with these today

[@tegt195]

Thanks Nick...and its amazing what kids can do with creating their own plays....very insightful!

[@wallk03]

You know you can make a theatere out of a cardboard box

[@VonSolo5]

Beautiful work! Thank you for the tour of your delightful puppet theater. So inspiring 💖

[@dapperda10]

This was beautifully explained. Thank you so much for this video!

[@Spankbucket]

You have given me some brilliant ideas with this. The sub-floor/magnet one is pure genius! Thanks.

[@tegt195]

Bernie, I hope you build one of these. They are a lot of fun!

[@Spankbucket]

@@tegt195 I have actually built four model theatres about ten years ago. But they all used stick/rods for the characters. Your method was a revelation thanks!

[@tegt195]

@@Spankbucket ASwesome! I'm glad you like the idea. It gives the characters so much more movement!

[@carlaschulz4217]

Thanks for sharing. This was awesome. I would love to see one of your shows.

[@tegt195]

check it out if you haven't already...home made play, but they're fun....If you would like to see a short 10 minutes play, 3 acts using this theater, check out Hansel & Gretal - The Return...kzbin.info/www/bejne/q5Ste2Wla6-SgsU

[@believe-a-bubble]

Hi Sandra .... Your theatre is awesome and the counterweight system is lovely. I love the idea of putting the counterweights inside small canvas or fabric bags. A nod to the old hemp lines with sandbags as counterweights in early flying systems. A quick note on your subfloor (Wonderful idea by the way, I'm going to incorporate that into my next build) If you glued a layer of baize material (the covering you find on casino and card tables, also I think snooker / pool tables) it would deaden the sound of the stick sliding about :-)

[@tegt195]

I love your idea of the subfloor covering...Gread Idea! Thanks! If you get to create a paper play, please share it.

[@jenniewilliamsmural]

Great - I was thinking the same thing - gotta be sneaky!

[@AndThenShlack]

I really love your work! Thanks

[@AafkeArt]

Love this! I love the idea of the magnets! Very instructive. Thanks for showing the side and how it all works.

[@valeriemoore1437]

thank you for sharing, very helpful for my university project based on the Faerie Queene poem. love from london!

[@sandrabell5971]

Good luck Valerie. If you do a play, a hope you'll share it here on You Tube....would love to see it!

[@Pavanesound]

Dear Ms. Bell, this video makes my heart sing. Thanks so much for sharing your time and expertise. I'm working on some pieces for a series of artworks and this is so helpful. Viva the paper theatre! Just magical. All the very best to you. Love from Australia

[@sandrabell6515]

Great to hear from Australia!! This toy theater is limited only by the imagination! Extraterrestrial would by fun!

[@Ranchorita]

This is so beautiful!

[@tdumnxy]

Thank you for making this video. Your theatre is wonderful and you demonstrated your ideas and additions so well (particularly the stage curtain construction and the sub-floor). I have been thinking about building one for my young daughter for a while now. You have inspired me and crystallised some of my own ideas also. Thanks again.

[@tegt195]

Thanks. My grandson has been wanting to do a play. He's 6 now, and I think he's old enough to actually work the play. We've had lots of fun with it.

[@cristianmanuk2207]

This is awesome, thank you for sharing and for all the good ideas

[@teabibber]

We plan to build our own theater and your video has been very valuable to us thank you for sharing

[@Attagirlashley]

you’re amazing, this is gorgeous!

[@gocarrgo]

Liked the little dog tail!

[@sandrabell6515]

Pets add the spice...

[@evelyneca7454]

Very impressive! Thank you for the tips!

[@tegt195]

Glad it was helpful!

[@rt-ks2bh]

For simple but very creative and looking at your model it is fantastic sandra,,i really thankyou for sharing on how you made it as it gives us ideas as the magnet along with the sub floor is a great idea,,love your presentation too,,thumbs up all the way from me thats for sure,,,can you please spell the company you purchased the paper theater from plz,,,,cheers

[@madebypernille]

I'm so happy to see a Danish proscenium! It's very pretty!

[@tegt195]

Thanks! I think they are hard to find anymore.

[@richardglady3009]

Wonderful video. Thank you.

[@imlistening3218]

You did an awesome job! I hope I can do this with my daughter for the granddaughters to enjoy...they love drama ;)

[@tegt195]

I hope you build one. It's not that hard with a few tools. And once you build, then you start designing sets with 3 curtains each which really adds dimension to the stage. It's really fun! And the grandkids will love it!

[@sutrasofdelight]

Thank you thank you for your brilliant insights and experience.

[@tegt195]

My pleasure!

[@TamaraKane]

Lovely! Thank you for sharing this! Do you know of where I might purchase a frame or starter kit? OR, if there's a good tutorial or blueprints to get some of the measurements correct? I love the idea of having something like this to make little movies and such with my family. I'm a doll maker, but I'd like to branch out to sets, scenery, and motion effects. To photograph my dolls, but also to entertain. Thanks again, and what a lovely paper play!❤️

[@tegt195]

Tamara, my source was Kannick Corners, but evidently they're gone. I bet you could whip up a model just from seeing this one...maybe?

[@bicycleninja1685]

Thanks for sharing!

[@НатальяВидяшова-п8щ]

Спасибо Вам огромное за видео! все очень понятно и подробно показано, хоть я и не понимаю ваш язык.

[@tegt195]

I need to figure out how to do translations, but thank you!

[@micromundichannel3266]

love your paper theatre! thx for sharing

[@tegt195]

Thanks for your comment. Paper Theaters are really fun!

[@igorperez3276]

Awesome, this is our next project, I got lots of ideas from this video

[@tegt195]

I'm glad...that Awesome. Good luck!

[@likeafloodinjanuary]

Hi Sandra, I'm thinking of building one of these myself. I can't see the weighting mechanism of the scenes too well, so I was wondering if you can expand on how they are threaded through the eye hooks? Great video

[@sandrabell6515]

I will get ink for my printer. Will have to draw a diagram and will send it to you. Please give me a few days.

[@likeafloodinjanuary]

Sandra Bell you are so kind! Thank you!

[@tegt195]

@@likeafloodinjanuary Try going to my site as I can't send photos to you in reply. I have posted it on one of my pages here: facebook.com/sandratbellart/?modal=admin_todo_tour

[@GloryChrysania]

This is so lovely! Thank you for sharing ♥

[@andrewlegadosfigueroa]

I mean like i really into theater so i decided in summer ill make one i love it :)

[@tegt195]

Great time to build one....we seem to have more time on our hands with covid.

[@wynmcnamara9604]

Lovely theatre.

[@kinggeorgeiii7229]

I’m making my own theater and different sets and the show I’m doing right now is Matilda I might do a video of it on my channel of the stage and sets!

[@tegt195]

Have you had a chance to work on Matilda? I would love to see it!

[@kinggeorgeiii7229]

@@tegt195 not yet it’s gonna be like a Barbie doll version since I do not have the budget for a real life show I’m working on Matilda’s bedroom set

[@TheRackits]

Great video! I'm building one now. Was just wondering, is it two separate lines going from the weight bag to the two clips holding the background?

[@tegt195]

Just 1 line connecting both clips...sorry to take so long geting back to you.

[@JohnBaxterWalker]

Very instructive - thank you

[@bbbbbx5]

Love it!

[@Vexillifer]

I would like to acquire a theater like this to reverse-engineer, so I can build my own with upgrades. Kannik's Corner doesn't ship to Europe, unfortunately.

[@tegt195]

Hopefully, head to the lumber yard for wood. The plywood is 1/4", the strips for the sides is like "parting stop", a strip of wood used to make door openings and stops the door from closing further, but generally is bought in 8' lengths. Be creative and draw a model with sides that can fold in (hinged), or not. You will need a stage depth of 18-20 inches, enough room to mount 9 curtains from the top. Good luck!

[@user-mw2ne6oh7n]

How did you do the mechanism that pulls the scenes up

[@tegt195]

If you go to this page of mine, it shows a closeup of the stringing of the curtains. Just page down the patreon page, you don't have to pay to see it. www.patreon.com/user?u=45257527&fan_landing=true&fbclid=IwAR3sbfESk5usQ64L5Su1pr1orElETyCz5TkUJ5PWHUTnE83L0aua_hJk8Qs

[@gavincampbell8037]

That’s incredible!!!!!!!

[@naturalherbaloil2796]

Lovely

[@rachellemoser6854]

Lovely!

[@tegt195]

I've often thought of writing a play, producing the sets and getting all the bugs out in miniature try-outs. It could be fun using a paper theater.

[@tegt195]

I noticed if you go to Etsy.com now, and type in paper theater kits, you can get print outs on disk www.etsy.com/listing/518503809/paper-toy-theatre-1918-model-printable

[@micromunditeatro5050]

Hello! i get inspiration from this video and i'd made a paper theater finally, but the way is long, i nedd a curtain and a story to play! anyone know where find this? thanks

[@tegt195]

A curtain should be made out of paper, show the folds of the fabric and paint it. .The story, be creative, write your first play. Start maybe with a fairy tale, and continue it for when the characers return...what's next?? Good luck!

[@micromunditeatro5050]

@@tegt195 at final i've made it! not the story but i'm thinking on it :) thank you

[@nigelwest-macaulay3577]

Where do you get the plan from?

[@sandrabell6515]

kannikskorner.com/toytheater/theater.htm...they have a great source of plays and painted sets from earlier Pollock plays popular in the 18th century.

[@dylanbryanreal]

wow i really want one

[@sandrabell6515]

I hope you build one. They are awesome and relatively simple to make. Try kannikskorner.com/toytheater/theater.htm for supplies.

[@jamesqueen9223]

I have a paper theater that I built my self.

[@tegt195]

That's wonderful! I hope you will write some plays for it!

[@gavincampbell8037]

This is amazing! Do you have a facebook or email I can message you about some questions? I plan on making one myself!

[@tegt195]

Email: [e-mail]..I'mm happy to help if I can.

[@user78995-z]

How awesome.

[@tegt195]

If you would like to see a short 10 minutes play, 3 acts using this theater, check out Hansel & Gretal - The Return...kzbin.info/www/bejne/q5Ste2Wla6-SgsU

[@user78995-z]

Could you make it Barbie size?

[@sandrabell6515]

I SUPPOSE you could make it any size. This is a Large C size, and therefore there are sceneries and plays that were created and are still available. You would have to start from scratch if you wanted one for Barbie, and the size would probably be too big to make it comfortable -- lots of curtains for different plays would take a lot of room.

[@sandrabell6515]

Here is where I found my first plans and plays: kannikskorner.com/toytheater/theater.htm

[@naturalherbaloil2796]

Lovely