Training in shadow-casting and puppetry technique started on December 1, 2025 in Kennedy Theatre at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. During the first week of December, all student performers were called on the theatre’s mainstage to observe and learn some foundational techniques on handling the puppets and shadow scenery slides, navigating distances and angles from the five lighting sources currently used, and utilizing perspective in shadow story-telling.
Significant for the upcoming production of Panji and the Lost Princess are two pairs of clowns: Semar and Turas, who are the most important of the punakawan (clown-servants) in the court of Raden Ino Kertapati (Panji), and Togog and Punta, who are clown servants of Terate Bang, Panji adversary. Learning about the main features of these characters made it possible for performers to improvise dialog as they explored various ways of manipulating the puppets.
Since the Panji production will feature also downstage dancing, in front of the projection screen, and live-action shadow work behind the screen, performers experimented with 3D masks: new wayang listrik designs that blend effectively traditional styles with contemporary needs. Credit for the creation of these masks goes to Larry Reed’s collaboration with Balinese master dhalang I Madé Sidia.
Read more about designing 3D wayang listrik masks for Panji and the Lost Princess in our next blog.
By Maggie Ivanova
Balinese Wayang Listrik at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa 