With a long and rich cultural history, shadow puppetry still has the power to mesmerise and pull on the heartstrings.
How would you tell a story? Through drawings, the written word, photos, video? It could be a combination of many options, including poetry and the spoken word. One of the oldest – and most magical – forms of storytelling, however, is shadow puppetry. And it’s something that requires no words at all.
— Jump to the puppet silhouettes printable
What is shadow puppetry?
When performed most simply, a puppeteer places one or more figures between a light and a screen, while the audience watches from the other side. The puppeteer then uses sticks and strings to manipulate the figures, which in turn controls the movement of their shadows. This ancient art form can also include music or dance.
Where does it come from?
Shadow puppetry is at least 2,000 years old and is thought by some to have originated in China and Indonesia, but there are also many early examples in India (see panel, overleaf), Japan, and Turkey. There are several myths surrounding its origin. One describes how a Chinese magician, Shao Weng, staged a shadow play to console Emperor Wu of Han who was grieving for a woman. In the flickering of the shadows, the Emperor could believe she’d been brought back to life. Since these earliest days, shadow puppetry has been picked up and practised in many other regions, including Greece, France, and the UK.
What do the puppets look like?
This depends largely on who’s making them, where they’re going to be used, and the story that’s being told. The figures sometimes represent mythological or historical characters, but they can also tell contemporary tales. They tend to be two-dimensional and can be as simple or elaborate as the artist chooses. Many have moveable joints and intricate decorations. Some figures are made of leather, card, or wire, whereas others are made of sheet metal, or the film used for X-rays.
How does it endure in the digital era?
Shadow puppetry is an important part of the cultural fabric of many communities, with performances staged at weddings, funerals, religious events, and other special occasions. Shows can also take place in community halls and commercial theatres. In many countries, the craft has been passed down by skilled puppeteers, some of whom form groups and share their knowledge with younger people. This way, children hear about their country’s history, myths, lore, and wisdom while also picking up theatrical and practical skills.
In his book Shadow Puppets and Shadow Play, puppet expert David Currell explains that they also help connect people with the past in a more direct way than modern forms of entertainment can offer. ‘Shadows have often been regarded as having magical qualities and have strong cultural, religious, and scientific dimensions,’ he says. ‘Our distant ancestors had shadows from the sun during the day and from their fires at night.
Will the story continue?
Yes! All stories – especially those that defy logic – get the imagination whirring. Shadow puppeteers knew this a long, long time ago and their art is still going strong, making for a magical journey. Ready to try putting on a shadow play for friends or family?
Out of the shadows
Shadow plays are important – and remain popular – in many cultures. Here’s a taste of their history in just three parts of the world.
- The word ‘wayang’ is the Javanese word for ‘shadow’ or ‘imagination’. It lends its name to a form of shadow puppetry that’s existed in Indonesia since at least the 10th century. Wayang kulit is performed with traditional puppets made from animal hide (‘kulit’ means ‘skin’). Puppeteers (dalang) might tell stories from the Hindu epics Ramayana and Mahābhārata. The traditional gamelan players (nayaga) and female singer (sindhèn) help out, too.
- Chinese shadow puppetry often features small figures made from leather or paper, embellished with beautiful decoration. Puppeteers use rods to move their puppets, accompanied by music and song. As in Indonesia, Chinese shadow puppetry features famous heroes from mythology and history. Performers still tell the legend of the Four Great Beauties of China – Xi Shi, Wang Zhaojun, Diao Chan, and Yang Guifei.
- In India, shadow puppet theatres often tell of the struggle between good and evil. Some puppets are ornately decorated and jointed whereas others are set in expressive poses. Puppet styles and figures vary distinctly across regions. Tolu Bommalata puppets from Andhra Pradesh are colourful and large – up to 150 cm high. Rabana Chhaya puppets from Odisha are smaller, and performers are descendants of musicians and officials from the local court. In Kerala, tholpavakoothu puppet masters are often poets who recite prose and verse.
Bring your own shadow puppets to life
A collection of shadow puppets and a shoebox theatre are easy to make and great fun to use. The puppets move behind a tissue-paper screen and are lit by a torch, which projects the scene onto the paper.
What you will need:
- White paper
- Printer
- Scissors
- Card
- Eco-friendly glue
- Wooden skewers
- Shoebox
- Eco-friendly or compostable tape
- White tissue paper
- Eco-friendly silver paint
- Colouring pens
- Torch
Where to start:
- Cut out the silhouettes in the PDF below or look on the internet for silhouette images of characters – fairy tales work well. Print them out, scaled to about 10 cm high.
- Roughly cut out the silhouettes, glue them onto the card, then cut them out again, neatly this time.
- Stick each puppet to a skewer with small pieces of tape, hiding the sharp end of the skewer behind the top of the puppet. You’ll be holding the blunt end during the performance.
- To make the theatre, upend the shoebox and draw a rectangle around the base, about 4 cm in from the edge. Cut out the rectangle to leave a frame.
- Paint the box silver, being careful of surfaces and clothes, then tape or glue the tissue paper onto the back of the frame. Decorate your theatre using the colouring pens.
- To put on your puppet show, place the theatre on a low table. Position the lit torch about 30 cm behind the box. Move the puppets around in the light beam between the torch and the theatre – and let the show commence! Moving them nearer the light will make the puppets look as though they’re moving towards the audience.
Download our printable puppet silhouettes here
