Bolivian puppeteers. Clara Altamirano de González (Quito, Ecuador, 1937) had her theatre début at the age of eight years in Ecuador, with two great authors of Spanish origin, Gonzalo Godelay and Margarita Ríos. She joined their theatre company and worked for many years, alternating between theatre and dance studies.

It was during international tours she met Jaime Gonzáles Portal (La Paz, Bolivia, 1930-2010), pioneer of puppetry in Bolivia. They married and together set up the puppet theatre, El Chasky, and with their puppets and tales, they travelled through Europe and South America. They settled for a long time in Spain, working mostly for television and putting up shows in Madrid, Barcelona and other cities in the country. In 1972, after having gained an immensely rich experience, they returned to Bolivia, where they produced shows and held classes for young puppeteers.

In 1975, Clara and Jaime Gonzáles created the Taller Nacional de Muñecos y Objetos Animados (National Workshop of Puppets and Animated Objects), which had a major influence on the new generations of artists. Clara directed the Taller for a long time, while Jaime took care of the training and headed the first puppet museum of Bolivia.

(See Bolivia.)