Sovanna Phum Art Association is a shadow puppet theatre company based in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Sovanna Phum, which means ‘Golden Village’ in Khmer, was founded in 1993 by self-taught puppet maker Mann Kosal and French circus performer Delphine Kasam. The group performs two forms of traditional shadow puppetry, Sbek Thom and Sbek Touch. They also conduct regular training and education programmes on shadow puppet making and performing.
Sokrip, the monkey king, was enlisted by Preah Ream on a quest to help save his wife, Neang Seda, from Krong Reap. The narrative follows this mission, which ends in a battle between Preah Ream and Sokrip’s monkey army against Krong Reap and his ogre army at the Battle of Lanka. This puppet depicts Sokrip marching proudly with Preah Ram’s soldiers with a dagger in his right hand. Sokrip is dressed in ornately decorated armour, with a high towering mokot on his head. Below his feet is a mythical water dragon.
