String and Shadow is a theater company based in Olympia, Washington. Each summer, they create a giant outdoor touring puppet show that weaves together a variety of puppetry styles, circus arts, and original music. With copious amounts of cardboard, fabric, and paper-mache, String and Shadow's worlds of fantasy and fable aim to pluck at the strings of universal wonder, innocence, and joy. Formed in the summer of 2020 to bring a Drive-In puppet show to their community in lock-down, String and Shadow has gone on to create five original full length shows and to tour their shows throughout Washington. Oregon, California, Montana, and Utah. They regularly collaborate with parks departments, libraries, nonprofits, and public schools to bring their unique performances to the public. They are currently a company-in-residence at The Olympia Family Theater.
Since their founding, all of String and Shadow's shows have been presented on a free/by-donation basis. They believe that access to the arts is a human right, and it is their goal to make high-quality, live theater that is accessible to everyone in the communities they visit. They are also deeply dedicated to creating work that resonates with audiences of all ages. It is their hope that their performances will nurture the imaginations of those young and old, and create environments that pluck at the universal strings of innocence in wonder. They believe that experiencing collective joy strengthens the bonds of community.
String and Shadow Puppet Theater’s mission is to create high-quality, accessible, all-ages theater that nurtures the imagination, sparks joy, and strengthens community through the expansive art forms of puppetry and storytelling.