The play, Shadow of the Puppets, was written by author and art critic Vu Hoang Hoa who currently resides in Sydney. It has been officially nominated for the 2023 Patrick White Award for scripts, an annual event organized by Sydney Theatre.
Shadow of the Puppets is a profound exploration of family pain, same-sex love, and the struggle to embrace one’s true self. Within each individual, there are hidden corners and deep secrets that remain concealed. The tragic story of an unhappy family sheds light on universal human issues.
The performance incorporates puppets and puppetry, including the captivating art of shadow puppetry. Puppets and humans merge on stage, embodying the characters’ essence and identity, portraying both their light and dark sides, and conveying the release of both pain and joy.
The performance is filled with innovative expressions, from its content to its staging, deviating from traditional theatrical conventions. Throughout the nearly 120-minute show, viewers are taken on a journey through life’s stages, traversing the past and illuminating the present through stunning visual displays and physical dances that are at times poetic and profound, and at other times turbulent and explosive.
The play’s director, Ta Tuan Minh, was honored with the Director Award at the 2020 Theatre Festival. The production team includes choreographer Nguyen Duy Thanh, puppet director Le Chi Kien, and puppet designer Nguyen Xuan Long.
Story of puppet making family
Pham Cong Bang is the youngest meritorious puppet making artisan in Vietnam. He was born into a family with generations working as puppeteers in Te Tieu village in Hanoi’s My Duc district.
Veteran artist breathes new life into Vietnamese puppetry
The art of puppetry is said to reflect people’s knowledge, creativity, and sense of humor. Vietnamese puppetry has been recognized globally in recent years thanks to the contribution of many Vietnamese puppeteers, including People’s Artist Nguyen Tien Dung.
Puppetry puts smiles on kids’ faces on Children’s Day
Theatres have been in a state of hibernation since the COVID-19 pandemic first took hold. Children’s Day, however, awakened many theatre stages and the desire of artists to deliver a great performance for young audience members.
Art exhibition bridges Vietnam and Egypt
The Vietnamese Embassy in Egypt on Nov. 30 held a photo exhibition on Vietnamese landscapes and people together with art performances and culinary showcase in Cairo. This is part of activities to mark the 57th founding anniversary of the Vietnam-Egypt diplomatic ties (Sep. 1, 1963 – Sep. 1, 2020).
New Puppet Show debuts
The Hanoitimes – The experimental puppet show entitled “The Moon” will make debut at the Vietnam Puppet Theater as a tourist product on February 8.
