Winter’s shorter, darker days make it the perfect time for cosy activities like shadow puppetry. Using our free printable silhouettes, a few sticks, and some paper, your kids can enjoy magical storytelling at home.

Start by printing and cutting out our fairy tale characters.

Please click here to download the activity sheet.

You can also create your own using black card, adding fun winter themed figures like snowmen or reindeer. Attach each puppet to a stick with tape or glue.

For the theatre, tape a piece of white paper to a cardboard box frame. Set up a small torch or lamp behind the screen in a dimly lit room to cast sharp shadows of your puppets.

Now your theatre is ready for your child to bring stories to life - whether acting out classic tales or creating their own winter adventures. It’s a fun, creative way to make the most of those long, dark evenings together! We used characters from the Mentari Wooden Tabletop Theatre for extra show magic and created a cardboard curtain too based on the one from this best selling toy!

For bigger theatre. play check out our woodland theatre which comes with a couple of glove puppets!