Myanmar Marionettes is a Mandalay-based string puppetry company founded by Ma Ma Naing and Naing Yee Mar in 1986. To the present day, the Myanmar Marionettes and their programming still strive not only to entertain through their performances but also to educate the world audience on the rich history and cultural values of Myanmar’s theatrical arts.
This puppet depicts the character City Ogre (Nan Belu), ornately clothed in green regal clothing with a pink and gold weaved silk cloth around his hip. On each hand, he carries a short golden sword known as the Thanlyet. A defining characteristic of the city ogre is a towering headpiece lined with different coloured stones. On stage during the performance, the city ogre typically stands on the right side of his less noble companion, the jungle Ogre. The ogre’s facial expression is vigilant and aggressive, as his iconic scene involves a battle with the jungle ogre. In the performance, the ogre’s dance represents their evil power and strength.
