"Theater der Dinge" provides a comprehensive overview of training for puppet, figure, and object theater. A historical introduction illustrates how, throughout the history of theater from ritual to the present, the "thing on stage" became the protagonist. The fundamentals of training—animating, speaking, moving, designing, playing, creating—are described by professionals, as well as the various fields of work that open up for newcomers to the profession. Additionally, artists share their insights, explaining the essential aesthetic strategies and working methods in the current scene. A service section listing European training institutions concludes the volume. This is an indispensable handbook for anyone wanting to learn more about how objects perform in theater.