Pavel Truhlar’s studio is small and cramped, filled with various body parts. Arms and legs stick out from cardboard boxes lining the shelves and floors and even the bathroom of the two-room apartment. Faceless heads lie in a cardboard box on the floor, waiting to be given life with the stroke of a paint brush. Truhlar is not an axe murderer, rather, he is the giver of life – to marionettes. This small studio in the Prague district of Vinohrady, is making sure that the Czech tradition of puppetry stays alive.

With the outbreak of World War II and the occupation by Nazi Germany, the Czech Republic was determined to protect its national identity and culture. In 1940 the Czech puppetry (marionette) community was affected by the outlawing of Sokol (community) organizations, as puppetry was one of the most active elements at that time. Even so, one marionette theatre still managed to produce plays – Prague’s Realm of Puppets. In the post-war years the puppetry evolved from street performances of folk tales to theatre productions and the profession expanded.

Marionette makers today still follow traditional methods of plaster-cast marionettes when making larger theatre performance quality models, but for the tourist market, they have adopted a modern day spin on character types, and methods, using woodcarvings and pre-fab designs. Local Marionette Business Truhlar Marionety owner Pavel Truhlar started as a street performer in the heart of Prague. In the crowded streets of the capital city, Pavel would sell puppets and marionettes from planks balanced on his shoulders and performed at local cafes and pubs under the puppet theatre group Ochotnice z Kampy (The Kampa Amateur). With the demand for good quality traditionally-made marionettes, Pavel and his wife, Karolina, opened their first marionette store in 1993 at the end of the Charles Bridge. And there it remains today, offering a diverse selection of marionettes. The marionettes vary from small plaster puppets – usually replicas of originals made from 1911 for family theaters – to serial carved marionettes and unique originals.

In August 2002, Prague’s Vltava river flooded, submerging Trular’s shop and causing massive damage. However this did not stop Pavels’ passion and devotion to continue his business.

After recovering from the flood, in 2004 Pavel and his family expanded the business by opening a second store shop in Prague’s Old Town. This more spacious gallery presents larger original marionettes with more complex designs.

Tourists can also make their own marionettes, under the watchful eyes of Pavel and workshop manager Zdenka Owenova. Groups of up to eight people are shown how to design and construct their very own marionette. The processes of puppet making for the modern day customer have changed from the more traditional 18th century customs. With the puppet body already made and a list of designs on offer, customers are virtually guaranteed to leave with a quality made marionette.

Story and text by Meagan Sneesby for the Argus