Take in a 90-minute shadow puppet performance, called wayang kulit, featuring a full Javanese gamelan ensemble, led by Vancouver-based Indonesian gamelan and puppet master Sutrisno Hartana with special guest drummer, Eko Purnomo Teguhwibowo from Java, Indonesia. Following the wayang kulit show is a short Javanese gamelan and dance performance in the Great Hall featuring special guest dancers from Sampan Bujana Sentra (Indonesian Young Artists Group) with direction and choreography from Uniek Sampan Hismanto. Don’t miss this opportunity to see these traditional dancers from Indonesia here for this weekend only.

Wayang Kulit (shadow puppetry) is a popular performance tradition in Indonesia, with roots from India and draws from the Hindu and Buddhist religions. Traditional puppets are created with water buffalo hide, and painted on both sides. The puppeteer, called a dhalang, holds the intricately carved leather puppets up against a white cloth with a bright light burning above his head to form shadows on the screen.

Gamelan is the traditional ensemble music of Indonesia, made up of mostly percussive instruments consisting of bronze gongs, metal xylophones and drums. The music features an intricate layering of rhythmic patterns and improvisation that creates a mesmerizing and shimmering beauty. Both Javanese gamelan and dance have a rich tradition dating as far back as the 7th century. Javanese dance movements are controlled, deliberate and elegant and the combination of gamelan and dance tells a story often related to the mythology of the Mahabharata and other timeless tales.

This special afternoon is offered in conjunction with the Museum’s latest feature exhibition—Shadows, Strings and Other Things: The Enchanting Theatre of Puppets.

Free with museum admission.

Program Schedule

Haida House

Wayang Kulit Javanese Shadow Puppet Performance | 11:00 am – 12:30 pm

Please note that seating for this performance is limited and entry will be on a first-come, first-served basis.

Great Hall

Javanese gamelan and dance | 1:00 – 1:30 pm

Artist Biographies

Sutrisno Hartana, who is also known as dhalang Mas Lurah Lebda Swara, is a wayang kulit puppeteer, composer and arts educator and currently teaches at SFU’s School for Contemporary Arts.

Eko Purnomo Teguhwibowo is a professional Javanese gamelan musician (drummer) and dancer from Yogyakarta, Indonesia. He graduated from the school of performing arts in Yogyakarta and toured in Canada in 2007 and 2008.

Uniek Sampan Hismanto is a choreographer and award-winning dancer based in Jakarta, Indonesia and currently serves as the Managing Director of Sampan Bujana Sentra.

A special thank you to the Consul General of the Republic of Indonesia in Vancouver, Dr. Tuti Wahyuningsih Irman (Mrs), and Bapak Firman Priambodo, Consul of Information, Social and Cultural Affairs, who provided the sponsorship for the guest dancers from Indonesia in addition to the use of the gamelan instruments.

Wayang Kulit, also known as shadow puppetry, is a popular performance tradition in Indonesia. Participants will also learn how to manipulate shadow puppets and have the opportunity to use a traditional Javanese shadow puppet screen.

Sutrisno Hartana is a wayang kulit puppeteer, composer and arts educator. Sutrisno, who is also known as dhalang Mas Lurah Lebda Swara, will present some important elements of wayang puppets performance including puppets’ character, how to manipulate and share the story for the puppets.

The roots of wayang kulit are from India, drawing from the Hindu and Buddhist religions. Plays are based on two very popular epic stories, the Mahabharata and Ramayana. Traditional Indonesian puppets are created from water buffalo hide, and painted on both sides. The puppeteer, called a dhalang, holds the intricately carved leather puppets up against a white cloth screen in front of where he sitting, and a bright light that is burning above his head forms shadows of the puppets on the screen.

All ages welcome to this family-friendly workshop. All materials will be provided.

Bring your family and friends, a blanket and a picnic to enjoy Our Creation Story—the latest collaboration between the two groups that is the theatrical adaptation of a Coast Salish story gifted to the project by the Paul family, members of the Tsarlip First Nation.

For this unique evening of performance and cultural sharing, the impressive and imposing 12-foot Coast Salish puppet named Meh will take the outdoor stage on the MOA Grounds, brought to life and animated by the Coastal Wolf Pack and Mortal Coil. Meh is currently featured in MOA’s exhibition, Shadows, Strings and Other Things: The Enchanting Theatre of Puppets, prominently standing at the entrance of the exhibition to welcome visitors.

Coastal Wolf Pack and Mortal Coil Performance have been working together since 2011, when the Wolf Pack performed their traditional Coast Salish songs and dances in the site-specific theatrical production Salmon Row. This performance of Our Creation Story is a continuation of the process that developed Meh, who is the inspiration for the piece.

Coastal Wolf Pack are Coast Salish singers, drummers and dancers. Mortal Coil is dedicated to creating imaginative theatre and spectacle for audiences through stilts, masks, and fantastic costuming.

Coastal Wolfpack Performers: Iona Paul, Alec Dan, Joseph Paul, Katisha Paul, Amanda Kenoras, Demetrius Paul, Perseis Paul, Mackenzie Paul, Shalaya Paul, Anna Paul, Arthur Paul, Ben Paul, Maddi Good, Khe’sul, Boedaya Leo, Leonard Sylvester, Alec Paul

Mortal Coil Puppeteers: Sean Sonier, Sarah May Redmond, Jim Preston, Amira Routledge, Sara

Director: Peter Hall

Free with museum admission