Thailand Shadow Puppetry

• used stock characters


• usually leather puppets


• played behind a screen


• used the shadows to depict plot


• heavy spotlights behind screen


• prolific detail/lace/holes in the puppets so light can shine through


• many colors


• mobile stages, moved around the village


• improv used with mobile stages


• temple theatres were used for more traditional performances


• very religious


• puppets were given birth and death burials


• hairs added to puppets heads distinguished them


• either large immovable characters (depended on story and music)


• or small movable characters (depended on movement)