Wayang Kulit

A fascinating theatre of shadows and light where intricately carved puppets made of cow skin are used to act out stories of good and evil based on ancient myths and legends. The wayang kulit is performed in a specially constructed structure with a white cloth screen facing the audience. A dalang or story teller sits behind the screen with an assortment of puppets of various characters. An ensemble of musicians accompanies the dalang and in the olden days, performances can last a few nights. The language used can be quite incomprehensible to the layman and those who are unfamiliar with the local Malay dialect, but the dancing of the shadows on the screen and the beautiful music are intriguing and at times amusing. The wayang kulit is a heritage protected under the UNESCO Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.