Buckmaster Puppets

Michael Buckmaster Puppets -  A speciality act which presented much loved trick marionettes and delighted audiences at Variety Performances, Cabaret Venues, Holiday Camps, Social Clubs and Theatres around Britain  from 1948 – 1999.
Mike’s most popular acts were his unique versions of the disjointing skeleton, the Grand Turk, the striptease puppet, the juggling unicyclist, the trampoline and the flying trapeze figures, famous celebrities in miniature and his original invention of three-tier puppetry – a puppeteer working a puppet working a puppet.


Here is his story in his own words…

1946 - The beginning

It all started when I was about 12 years old and purchased three Pelham String Puppets.  I was always interested in Variety Theatre and summer season shows in the Thanet area where my family lived, particularly Puppet Theatre shows which I always enjoyed. I bought several books on Puppetry and decided to make my own string puppets (Marionettes) that seem to be very popular at that time. My Father being a carpenter and my Mother, a seamstress, was a great help, which meant when I left school at the age of 15 years, I was ready to present my own Puppet Theatre Show in Ramsgate for the summer season (1949). In fact before leaving school I did my first live show at a local Garden Fete.