NANG SHADOW

PUPPETS OF
THAILAND
Shadow puppet (Thai: Nang) was one form
of public entertainment in the south of
Thailand. It is still very popular at village
festivals, temple fairs, and celebrations
such as marriages.
Its characters are made from intricately
cut out and articulated shapes of
leather. They are delicately colored,
but this does not show during a
performance as the puppets appear
only in shadow against a white sheet,
with light shining through from
behind.
They are manipulated with rods that control
movements of the arms and legs. The
puppets are colorful but really they do not
have to be because you only see the black
shadows. In the second picture you can see
the people holding the puppets. Normally
you can see only the shadows like in the third
picture.
Performances:

• have a religious theme or have an episode

from the Ramayana epic which contains
dozens of individual stories. They may also be
specially written to include up-to-the minute
reflections, songs, and poems about local
events and matters of current interest in the
district or country.
there are hundreds of different
characters each with a
distinctive shadow, but the
show will almost always
include a clown, funny old
man, scatter - brained old
woman or rather stupid yokel,
who are all great favorites
with the fun - loving
audiences.
• Mr. Suchart Sapsin, he is a man of
many talents. He is not only an
expert in the craft of making the
puppets but he is also an award -
winning writer and poet. He is
narrator, speaking or singing all the
parts using different voices, and he is
a superb mimic
Themes commonly seen in Nang performances
include

• family conflict,
• fantastic adventures of a wandering hero,
• star-crossed lovers and
• romantic tales, hermits teaching magic to their
apprentices, and abandoned children seeking lost
loved ones A hermit (adjectival form: eremitic or hermitic) is a
person who lives, to some degree, in seclusion from
society.[1] In Christianity, the term was originally applied
to a Christian who lives the eremitic life out of a religious
conviction
Nang attempts to relay to the
audience the importance of
Thai values and ideologies in
a changing world, however,
the mystical and historical
events remain fundamental in
all performances.
The association with karma (all actions have
equal reactions) and the underlying message
of rewards and punishments act as allegories
for Buddhist morality and philosophy. And it
is usually performed during the country's dry
season (February to August).
Two Types of the Nang:

• Nang Talung is played with leather

puppets, each representing a separate
character, about 50 centimeters high.
They usually possess a movable, jointed
arm controlled by a string.
• Nang Yai is normally made of cowhide and
rattan, a large, decorated scenes and
characters measuring around two meters
high and a meter wide. They do not have
jointed arms, but the themes and styles
remain the same.
g
• There are over 300 Nai Nang in the southern
regions of Thailand.
• They perform using the puppets on a backlighted
white screen, and hide themselves in small wood
and bamboo shelters.
 • The performances run from dusk
to dawn and incorporate
narration, songs, prose, and the
performer's improvised dialogue.
• The rhythm and fluidity of each
performance is essential in
maintaining audience interest, thus
the Nai Nang must vary their
techniques and story lines.
Characters such
as:
• gods and
goddesses,
• kings and
queens,
• magical figures,
and
• comedians.