A major new contribution by David Currell, Shadow Puppets & Shadow Play explains with clarity and precision the art of shadow puppetry which is increasingly used by professional companies as well as having significant applications in education. Lavishly illustrated in colour throughout (420 photographs) it sets out detailed instructions for making and presenting shadow puppets by traditional methods and also covers the latest materials and techniques. The book is structured into twelve chapters and includes shadow puppet design, construction, control, lighting and staging as well as guidance on making translucent figures in full colour and a useful introduction to creating animated silhouette films. The chapters on contemporary explorations and performance are a welcome new contribution to the art of the shadow puppet. As with Currell's previous publications "Puppets and Puppet Theatre" (1999) and "Making and Manipulating Marionettes" (2004), Crowood Press have again produced an attractive and comprehensive hardback publication, complete with useful addresses and contacts & full index, which is sure to become a standard work in its field. pp.208.