VIDEO: Balinese shadow puppetry production to transform Kennedy Theatre stage

Contact:

Link to video (details below): https://go.hawaii.edu/inr

***Suggested VO script below***

The University of Hawai'i at Mānoa's Department of Theatre & Dance and Kennedy Theatre will debut Panji and the Lost Princess from April 17-26, a large-scale Balinese shadow puppetry performance that blends tradition with innovation. The show features towering shadow figures, live actors and dancers, and a full gamelan orchestra, an Indonesian ensemble known for its layered, rhythmic sound.

At the center is a love story that has traveled across centuries. The Panji tales, rooted in 13th-century Java and later embraced in Bali, follow a prince and princess separated again and again by misfortune and disguise. Their journey unfolds through "electric shadows," a modern Balinese style that uses giant screens, dramatic lighting and performers moving both in front of and behind the stage.

"Everything you see on the screen is created live, in the moment," said co-director Kirstin Pauka, a professor in theatre and dance. "This type of theatre is as complex as shooting a movie, and we do it all in one take."

The production is co-directed by Balinese master artist I Madé Moja, who returns to Kennedy Theatre after staging two earlier works. The team leans fully into handmade design. No digital projections. No computer effects. Instead, simple materials are transformed into moving shadows, music and motion.

"The level of teamwork required goes far beyond most theatre productions," Pauka said.

That collaboration stretches across campus and community. The cast includes UH Mānoa students, local performers, and keiki learning the art form. The live music is led by master musician I Madé Widana.

Ticket information

Tickets range from $9 to $25. Performances are scheduled for Friday and Saturday evenings, with a Sunday matinee on April 26. Pre-show talks will be held before select performances.

For more go to the Kennedy Theatre website.

Link to video and sound (details below): https://go.hawaii.edu/inr

VIDEO BROLL: (1 minute, 30 seconds)

Dress rehearsal, backstage preps (makeup application, testing stage lighting)

VO SCRIPT

INTRO
At UH Mānoa, an ancient Balinese art form is being reimagined for the stage.

VO
Student actors and crews are preparing to debut a large-scale shadow puppetry production, Panji and the Lost Princess, at Kennedy Theatre.

The centuries-old tale unfolds through light, shadow and movement. And set to the sound of a traditional gamelan orchestra.

Behind the scenes, students prepare for a performance that relies on precise timing.

The show debuts this Friday and runs through April 26th.

Tickets range from nine to twenty-five dollars. For more information, visit the Kennedy Theatre website.