For centuries, puppetry has been a significant art form in almost every Southeast Asian country. The most enduring form is the shadow puppet theatre. A myriad of interpretations can be found across the region, including Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.
In Malaysia, the country’s rich reservoir of cultural arts have been challenged by its socio-political environment over time, thus resulting in a slow demise of its traditional art practices. Academics, artists and puppeteers have found ways to innovate and pass on the essence of the art form in order to ensure its sustainability.
