Malay shadow puppets : the Wayang Siam of Kelantan

The shadow puppet theatre and its plays are a popular feature of everyday life in South-east Asia. The areas in which the shadow plays exist have all at some time in their history been under the influence of Indian culture, and a major source of the repertoire is the tales of Rama, the reincarnation of the god Vishnu, based on the great Hindu epic, the -Ramayana. Although the Malays were converted to Islam several centuries ago, popular shadow puppet performances keep the heroic stories alive. This they do by means of creative exposition rather than by literal repetition. Situated between Thailand to the north and Indonesia to the south, Kelantan is a recipient of cultural influences which are reflected in the puppets of the popular Malay shadow plays -- the Wayang Siam. These particular puppets fall into several categories according to their appearance, their closest affinities being with Thai puppets, but some show a strong, relatively recent Javanese influence. Dr. Sweeney examines Malay shadow puppets with a special reference to the superb collection purchased by teh British Museum from Awang Lah, one of the most famous of the Kelantanese dalang (puppeteers, or masters of the play). He outlines the techniques of the shadow plays and their social context; discusses the puppets themselves, and their types, appearances and construction; the performance; the repertoire and the chief characters involved in the basic narrative. The shadow puppet theatre gives a fascinating insight into the contemporary culture of South-east Asia, as well as offering striking comparisons with forms of popular theatre elsewhere.