THE origin of the marionette theatre, like that of the drama proper, or ' flesh-and-blood,' is lost in antiquity, though it is known that the Egyptians used it in their religious ceremonies many centuries before Christ. Italy, however, is the traditional home of the marionettes ; it is in Italy that they have most consistently retained their popularity, that the art and craft of manipulating them has been preserved, its secrets being handed down, orally, generation after generation in the families devoted to Le Piccole Maschere, and that composers and dramatists of the first rank have written special works for the marionettes to perform.
England has seen the puppet theatre before our time, for it came here in Pepys's day; but it was Gordon Craig who revived interest in it, and just recently the Italian theatre of Le Piccole Maschere has been having a most successful run in London. Mr. Meadmore, who is now associated with this theatre, worked with Gordon Craig at his open-air theatre in Florence before the war. He is also a well-known musical expert.