Masha and the Bear: A Handcrafted Puppet Exploration

This winter, we brought the Russian folktale Masha and the Bear to life with handmade puppets and a storybook-style set.

In the tale, Masha gets lost in the forest and is taken in by a bear who keeps her in his cottage to cook and clean. But clever Masha bakes some pies, hides herself in a basket, and tricks the bear into taking her all the way home to her grandparents.

🎭 Hand Puppets: Two Characters, Two Hands

For this project, each character was made and performed by hand—literally.

Masha was operated with the left hand, and the bear with the right, allowing them to interact, move, and even dance with remarkable expressiveness.

• Masha wore a soft pink-purple dress and headscarf, with her legs animated by two fingers. She could jump, wave, and peek out of the basket.
• The Bear was made from thick, furry fabric with a plump body and a handmade Russian-style vest. His movement was slower and heavier—perfect for his lumbering walk through the forest.

🧵 Supporting Characters

Grandma, Grandpa, and barking dogs were simple hand puppets with stitched expressions. The dogs added just the right energy at the village gates, where the bear made a hasty retreat.

🏡 Cardboard Scenery

We created a layered stage with three paperboard scenes:

• A forest filled with silk scarves, mushrooms, and birch trees
• A cottage with an openable door where Masha could peek out
• A village for the story’s joyful ending

This backdrop brought a sense of journey and depth to the storytelling.

🐾 A Walk Through the Audience

At one point, the bear jumped off the stage and clomped through the children, making his way “through the spruce and birch trees” just as in the story. The surprise delighted the young audience and drew them closer to the tale.

This project was as much about making as it was about performing.

With fabric, thread, cardboard, and imagination, we told a story children could not only watch—but feel part of.