This scale-model educational toy is being rediscovered and celebrated at a free festival and exhibition in the Seuss Room of Geisel Library UC San Diego.
Paper theatre, which is also called "table top theatre" or "toy theatre," dates back to the Victorian Era. Families constructed these theatres from poster kits with scripts, scenery sheets, as well as paper doll "actors."
In the Victorian Era, theatrical playhouses printed fine souvenir posters showing the architectural elements of their theatre. Aspects of set design were shown on the posters along with representations of actual actors of the company (shown in costume from any particular production). Condensed scripts accompanied these poster kits, and paper doll players were soon seen in lively productions on table tops in homes, while introducing many aspects of theatre arts to producers and performers of all ages.
From these posters families and hobbyists would cut out the proscenium, the curtain, etc., to create a scale model of a specific theatre. These paper theatre hobbyists ended up learning much about scenic design, lighting effects, sound effects, music cues, acting and directing?all through this paper theatre toy.
Theatre-goers often bought these paper theatre posters as souvenirs promoting an actual production they saw. Those living far from the theatre district ordered paper theatres from a catalog and had them delivered to their homes in town as an educational toy. A lot of cutting and pasting was involved but hours of educational fun and artistic exploration would follow. The many two-dimensional layers of a paper theatre add up to something with surprising depth and charm.
Exhibit and accompanying live events of this Paper Theatre Festival are free and open to the public.
Admission/Cost: FREE
Location:
Geisel Library
UCSD
9500 Gilman Drive
La Jolla, CA 92093
Dates and times:
Saturday, February 10 - 12:00 noon to 5:00 PM
Sunday, February 11 - 12:00 noon to 5:00 PM
Monday, February 12 - 9:00 AM to 1:30 PM
For more information, please call (858) 822-5758
Paper theatre, which is also called "table top theatre" or "toy theatre," dates back to the Victorian Era. Families constructed these theatres from poster kits with scripts, scenery sheets, as well as paper doll "actors."
In the Victorian Era, theatrical playhouses printed fine souvenir posters showing the architectural elements of their theatre. Aspects of set design were shown on the posters along with representations of actual actors of the company (shown in costume from any particular production). Condensed scripts accompanied these poster kits, and paper doll players were soon seen in lively productions on table tops in homes, while introducing many aspects of theatre arts to producers and performers of all ages.
From these posters families and hobbyists would cut out the proscenium, the curtain, etc., to create a scale model of a specific theatre. These paper theatre hobbyists ended up learning much about scenic design, lighting effects, sound effects, music cues, acting and directing?all through this paper theatre toy.
Theatre-goers often bought these paper theatre posters as souvenirs promoting an actual production they saw. Those living far from the theatre district ordered paper theatres from a catalog and had them delivered to their homes in town as an educational toy. A lot of cutting and pasting was involved but hours of educational fun and artistic exploration would follow. The many two-dimensional layers of a paper theatre add up to something with surprising depth and charm.
Exhibit and accompanying live events of this Paper Theatre Festival are free and open to the public.
Admission/Cost: FREE
Location:
Geisel Library
UCSD
9500 Gilman Drive
La Jolla, CA 92093
Dates and times:
Saturday, February 10 - 12:00 noon to 5:00 PM
Sunday, February 11 - 12:00 noon to 5:00 PM
Monday, February 12 - 9:00 AM to 1:30 PM
For more information, please call (858) 822-5758
