As puppet-making has grown, so has interest in giving those puppets somewhere to actually perform. Shoebox proscenium arches and pop-up cardboard theaters have become a popular companion project, often built by the same person who made the puppet in the first place.
Templates for fold-flat cardboard stages are circulating widely, with makers adding their own curtain fabric, painted backdrops, and even simple lighting using battery tea lights.
The trend dovetails naturally with classroom use, where a shared stage lets an entire class take turns performing without needing individual setups.