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Break a Leg! DIY Doorway Puppet Theater
Give your kids a taste of the spotlight without leaving home.
Forgo the makeshift kitchen table or behind-the-couch stages and opt for something a bit grander. With a curtain, some fabric and a shower rod, you can give your kids the ultimate puppet theater in your very own home. The best part? It couldn't be easier to put up and take down. There's no better setup for a rainy day!
Materials Needed
- tape measure
- 84" curtain panel
- iron-on adhesive
- iron
- permanent marker
- tension rod
- scissors
- small wooden dowel
- 25" x 30" red fabric
- pinking shears
- pom-pom trim
Trim Curtain
Jalynn Baker
Jalynn Baker
Jalynn Baker
Begin by measuring the chosen doorway and adding 1 inch to the horizontal measurement and 3 inches to the vertical measurement. Cut the curtain to those dimensions. Use iron-on adhesive to create a clean edge on the cut sides. You'll use about 1/2 inch of fabric on each side and 3 inches on the top. Be sure to leave room for the tension rod.
Cut Center Hole
Jalynn Baker
Jalynn Baker
Jalynn Baker
Jalynn Baker
Slide the tension rod through the slit in the top and position the curtain in the door frame. Use a permanent marker to mark the rectangle you will cut out. We suggest 23 inches from the bottom, 20 inches above that and 5 inches from each side. After you've cut out the rectangle stage, make 1-inch diagonal cuts in each corner. Then, fold back the fabric and use iron-on adhesive to hold it in place. You'll do this for each side, but for the bottom, add a small wooden dowel to add weight and rigidity to the fabric.
Add Curtain
Jalynn Baker
Jalynn Baker
Jalynn Baker
Jalynn Baker
No theater is complete without a red curtain. Cover the rectangle in the curtain with red fabric and attach it at the top using iron-on adhesive. Use pinking shears to split the curtain down the middle and to add a decorative touch. Add pom-pom trim to tie back the curtains on each side and add a strip to the top of the curtain for a whimsical addition.
Action!
Jalynn Baker
Just add puppets and enjoy the show!
