Bruno and Darlene Frascone (Mainstring Theatre)

Mainstring Theatre was founded in 1979 by Bruno and Darlene Frascone in the United States (Cincinnati, Ohio) before moving to France . The troupe has a solid reputation in marionette circles, with tours in Switzerland, Germany, Italy, the United States and extensive touring in France. They have been based in Angers, France since 1986 (situated in the Loire valley near the Atlantic coast). Mainstring Theatre presents family programs using string puppets, with very little or no words in their shows. The troupe also offers a travelling exhibit of their marionettes with stage sets and automata. In a effort to share their craftsmanship, Bruno and Darlene Frascone organize hands-on workshops in schools or on an individual basis, using a marionette "kit" that they invented. They have recently written and edited an manual that describes their technique ("The Art and Technique of Marionette Making").