String and Shadow is theater company based in Olympia, Washington. They create giant puppet shows set to live, original music. As storytellers, String and Shadow create heartfelt performances for people of all ages. A mix of magical realism, science fiction, and folk tale, their stories take audiences to the surface of moon, into the belly of a giant fish, and to the headquarters of a sinister intergalactic corporation specializing in the production of "worlds." Formed in the winter of 2017, String and Shadow has authored five original shows and toured regionally and nationally across the United States. They are currently a company-in-residence at The Olympia Family Theater.

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String and Shadow is committed to bringing high-quality, accessible live theater to their communities. All of their shows are by suggested donation, with no one turned away for lack of funds. Community involvement is essential to what they do, contributing to and informing the work itself. They believe that in this technological time, live theater is a necessary and life-giving practice, providing an opportunity for people to come together in the public square and engage with each other through story and art. 

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Since the onset of Covid-19, S&S has been finding inventive ways to bring live theater to their community. In the spring of 2020, they spent two months touring a socially-distanced puppet show through the neighborhoods of Olympia, serenading folks in lockdown. That summer they produced possibly the world's first drive-in puppet show, a full-length pageant of giant puppets and masks, with music and narration broadcast on the radio by a low-frequency FM transmitter so audience members could enjoy the show from the safety of their vehicles.

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"Truly beautiful. Every tired activist heart should try to check out this beautiful production. It’s a collective experience, which feels so rare these days."

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