Slide 1

Slide 2

Slide 3

Slide 4

Shadow Puppets are an ancient form of storytelling using opaque, often articulated figures in front of an illuminated backdrop.

Slide 5

In Indonesia (notably Java and Bali), shadow puppet plays are known as Wayang Kulit.

Slide 6

In Javanese, Wayang means shadow or imagination.

Slide 7

Kulit means skin and refers to the leather that puppets are made from.

Slide 8

Slide 9

The stories presented are usually mythical and morality tales, with a battle between good and evil.

Slide 10

But when and where did actual shadow puppetry originate? In actual fact, shadow puppetry is the oldest form of puppetry in the world. The story goes that over 2000 years ago, the Emperor of the Han Dynasty, Wu, missed his favourite concubine after she died of illness so much, that he lost the desire to do anything, including reigning over China, the country he loved.

Slide 11

Slide 12

Slide 13

Slide 14

Slide 15

Slide 16

One of his ministers came to the rescue. After seeing some children playing with dolls, he noticed the shadows that the dolls cast, and had an idea. He cut a female shape out of donkey leather, creating eleven separate pieces for her joints, and dressed her in painted clothes. His idea? To bring the emperor's concubine back to life

Slide 17

Using a lamp to cast shadows on the wall. the minister made the favoured concubine dance again. This story is recorded in the official history books and is thought to be the origin of shadow puppetry!

Slide 18

This new form of entertainment spread throughout China as the Manchu rulers spread. It was a show with no language barrier and also started to be used in religious ceremonies, in a manner that allowed the living to communicate with the dead

Slide 19

India, Turkey and Greece also enjoyed shadow puppetry throughout the ages. Such plays were important in India in the 16th century, and the puppets used were generally the largest. The plays were performed under the eye of Shiva, patron god of puppets. They were usually religious and based on epic stories. In Java and Bali, such epics are performed all night!

Slide 20

In fact, the Indian folklore surrounding shadow puppets is a wonderful tale in itself. The legend states that the shadow dolls were once basic blocks of wood, but one special toymaker would turn this wood into amazing dolls, giving them separate, moving limbs. Lord Shiva and the goddess Parvati visited the shop of this toymaker, and Parvati was so taken with the dolls that she asked Shiva to allow their souls to enter the dolls and cause them to dance. This inspired the toymaker further, and he created string puppets.

Slide 21

Ancient shadow puppets of the Ottoman and Byzantine empires were the forebears of theatres in Greece. These featured a main character named Karagiozi, a hump-backed man with a large nose and one arm longer than the other.

Slide 22

Shadow plays spread throughout Europe in the 1700's, first through Italy and moving into France. The early 1900's saw the creation of silhouette animation, created by a German named Lotte Reiniger, which saw shadow puppets filmed frame by frame.

Slide 23

hadow puppet entertainment did not catch on in America, however, until after the American Revolution.

Slide 24

While traditional shadow puppets are flat and made from leather, modern shadow puppetry sees plays manipulated with computers or film, with many involving full orchestras, intricate scenery and more. Some cultures continue the tradition of the ancient shadow puppets, however, and there are still many shadow plays with simple backdrops. It is a theatre art with lasting appeal, as puppets can be projected to enormous, larger than life proportions, or tiny images that could fit in the palm of your hand!

Slide 25

Slide 26

Slide 27

Slide 28

Slide 29

Slide 30

Slide 31

Slide 32

Slide 33

Slide 34

Slide 35

Slide 36

These puppets, called Wayang Kulit, are from the Indonesian island of Java. Shadow puppets are popular all over Asia. These puppets are used to tell story of the Ramayana - an epic tale from India, which is more than 2000 years old. This story is well known all over the world. It is the story of Prince Rama as he tries to rescue his wife Sita from the demon king Ravana. Rama is helped along the way by the monkey warrior Hanuman and, after a long battle, Rama defeats Ravana. He returns home, guided by the lamps of villagers across the country. This part of the story is remembered at Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights.

Slide 37

These types of puppet are carefully cut out of buffalo skin and then decorated with paint. Tiny holes are punched all over the puppet to create the outlines and textures of the characters clothes. The puppets are used as part of a performance that happens at night and can last for many hours. Hundreds of puppets are controlled by the Dalang (puppeteer) who moves them in front of a lamp to create shadows on a screen. The story is accompanied by music, which helps to create an atmosphere and to emphasise dramatic parts of the story.

Slide 38

Slide 39

Slide 40

Slide 41

Slide 42

Slide 43

Slide 44

Slide 45

Slide 46

Slide 47

Slide 48

Slide 49

Slide 50

Slide 51

Slide 52

Slide 53

Slide 54

Slide 55

Slide 56

Slide 57

Slide 58

Slide 59

Slide 60

Slide 61

Slide 62

Slide 63

Slide 64

Slide 65

Slide 66

Slide 67

Slide 68

Slide 69

Slide 70

Slide 71

Slide 72

Slide 73

Slide 74

Slide 75

Slide 76

Slide 77

Slide 78