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Water puppetry video7/31/2023 ![]() ![]() They used a Pagoda (bamboo curtain) as a hiding screen to stand behind, in waist – deep water, to control the animated puppets for the entire length of the show.Ĭharacters and Milieu Performance of Thanglong group at International Theatre Festival of Kerala 2019 Situating the artform in the modern context, at Sangeet Natak Academy, the puppeteers of Thanglong group didn’t forget to abide by the rule of minimalism. Historically, the aboriginal masses in their leisure time used to carve these puppets to stage shows at grassroot level for an entertaining visual treat. The art form follows the path of minimalism by using basic and rudimentary materials like Fig Wood to carve puppets, as the wood can’t be used for other utilitarian purposes. Primarily created for recreational purpose by peasantry of Vietnam, Water Puppetry mirrors the issues faced by the farmers due to natural disasters and difficult environment. ![]() We believe that the core to water puppet is to remain the traditional in essence and use technology to enhance that”. “We have incorporated a new ticketing system to make it easier for all audience, on the other hand, we use a modern lightning and sound system during the show in combination with live music and traditional instrument. ![]() The group have now become one of the most popular attractions in Hanoi and have been adapting to the changes of the world to make art survive. However, we survived through our consistent effort and scheduled performances”, tells one of their members. “There was a time when our artists barely make ends meet and were compelled to have a second job, usually labour works. Chu Luong, the group has been performing alternately everyday in Hanoi but had their own share of difficulties since the beginning. ![]() A concoction of this was presented by Thanglong, who’s in practice of Water Puppetry for 19 years and are trying to keep intact its glory in this fast-growing digital age. Vietnam as a South-Asian country is famed for its diverse culture, quintessential landscape of paddy fields and rich history embedded with folklores, mythical tales and fables. But what if the real actors are not humans but are rather puppets being controlled by strings and rods? This year’s edition of International Theatre Festival of Kerala witnessed water puppetry, a unique style of theatrics based on centuries old Vietnamese folk art whose genesis lies in Hanoi. The actors perform on stage and only go behind the wings to don a different character for a comeback. More than the poles being pushed about, and the strings being pulled, the biggest trick seems to be the crew’s highly synchronized organization.Theatre is a work of a team. So we couldn’t wait to see them in action.Īs it turns out, and as you can see in our video, there’s no great secret - these guys are just highly proficient at their job, and use clever tools to create their illusions. But it seemed impossible that they’d be able to make the puppets dance, spin and jump in such perfect synchronization. The basic concept was simple enough: puppets attached to long bamboo poles, manipulated from behind a screen by a group of men and women. While watching the show in Saigon at the Golden Dragon theater, we had wondered about the mechanics of water puppetry. Jürgen and I had already seen a show while in Saigon, so we asked if we might be allowed backstage to see the puppeteers at work. Our trip to Ha Long Bay included a Water Puppet performance on the way back to Hanoi. ![]()
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