Subali-Sugriwa: Battle of the Monkey Kings
JANUARY 22 – 31, 2016
FRI/SAT 7:30PM & SUN JAN 31 at 2:00PM
On the Kennedy Theatre Main Stage
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Free Pre-show Chats: Sat. January 23 and 30 at 6:45pm
Additional pre-show presentation with specialist Kathy Foley: Sun. January 31 at 1:15pm
In Spring 2016, a Wayang Listrik performance ran at Kennedy Theatre at UH Mānoa. The show came alive with traditional carved leather puppets, shadow-actors, dancers, and gamelan music. The production ran from January 22 to 31 and featured a brand new script by Balinese master artist Ketut Wirtawan based on the Sugriwa-Subali episode of the classical Hindu text Ramayana.
We also had a special school show on Thursday, January 28, 2016 to which we invited K-12 students from local Oʻahu schools. Prior to this special performance, workshops were held to demonstrate important aspects of Wayang Listrik and Balinese performance, so that the students would have the background to understand and enjoy the full performance.
Performer training and production process
UH CSEAS Production Information
A powerful demon wants a beautiful goddess for his wife. Legendary monkey brothers Subali and Sugriwa are enlisted to help the gods repel the rejected suitor’s armies in a story told through wayang listrik, a modern Balinese theatre genre that blends shadow puppetry (wayang kulit), dance and music. Traditional carved leather puppets, actors as shadow puppets, Balinese dance, and a live gamelan orchestra share the stage.
2015-2016 Teacher Resource Guide
As part of the Wayang Listrik outreach we developed a research guide. Any K-12 teacher wishing to bring the art of Balinese performance to their classroom may download and use it! It is available in PDF form via the link below.
Wayang Listrik Teacher Resource Guide
Hamilton Library Research Guide
Common Core and Hawai‘i Content & Performance Standards Connections
Click on the relevant link(s) below to view how our outreach activities align with state standards for K-12 (look for the yellow highlights).
CCSI K-12
HCPS III FINE ARTS K-5
HCPS III LANGUAGE ARTS K-8
HCPS III SOCIAL STUDIES K-4, 6
Click to access the full production recording
Balinese Wayang Listrik at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa 