An article in the Harvard Gazette explains how puppet designer Kate Brehm understands the power of illusion and imagination in storytelling. In the American Repertory Theater’s new adaptation of The Odyssey, she utilizes shadow puppetry to convey deep emotions and enhance the narrative’s mythological themes. By manipulating light and shadow, Brehm and her team create evocative silhouettes, inviting audiences to fill in the gaps with their own imagination.

“Part of the skill of puppetry is offering just enough information, but not all of it, allowing the audience to engage with the negative space,” Brehm explains. This minimalistic approach heightens emotional connection, making puppets a powerful storytelling tool.

In this production, puppets are used alongside live actors to depict key moments, such as Penelope recounting Odysseus’s departure. Brehm also crafted an innovative Cyclops eye using an overhead projector and plexiglass layers, creating a lifelike illusion synchronized with the actor’s performance.

By blending movement, shadow, and light, Brehm transforms puppetry into a dynamic, choreographed performance. Through this artistry, The Odyssey reimagines ancient myths, proving that puppetry’s non-verbal storytelling can convey deep, human emotions in a way that words often cannot.

At Burble Creativity, we agree with the power of minimally defined storytelling, allowing the audience to imagine their own details. It is exciting to see the imagination unleashed, as well as to see the effects this type of storytelling has on children.