Puppet Showplace Theater Tholpavakoothu: Shadow Puppet Play of Kerala, India at Puppet Showplace

Experience shadow puppetry by firelight! Witness scenes from the dramatic epic Ramayana, complete with scenes of battles, trickery, and the natural world, performed by masters of Tholpavakoothu, a traditional form of shadow puppetry from Kerala, India. Come at 8:00 pm to try your hand at manipulating the handmade leather puppets, with guidance from our visiting artists; and then as dusk falls, stay to see a performance.

Even puppet fans may never have seen shadow puppetry like this — the screen is illuminated by 21 lighted lamps made of coconuts cut in half, filled with coconut oil and lit with cotton wicks. About 160 puppets are used for this performance! 

This ensemble is led by Rahul Koonathara, a 12th-generation practitioner of this traditional form of fire-lit shadow puppetry from Kerala, India.

All ages welcome; recommended for everyone 4 and up! No matter your age, you will be delighted by the storytelling, drama, and skill displayed in this traditional art form.