Performance Gallery was developed at Brighton Museum in response to the excellent collections which relate to performance. The gallery opened in 2002 and an installation of puppets from Java is featured as one of seven puppet traditions from around the world.

	Java shadow and rod puppets in Performance Gallery

The display:
Indonesian rod and shadow puppets share a case. To the left, shadow puppets are displayed to highlight their strong silhouette. Unlike in shadow puppet performance, a detailed close-up inspection is possible, showing the exquisite painting of the puppets. To the side, a set of figures is ranked, as they would be for performance, ready for the puppeteer to transfer to the next scene.

The gallery label reads:
The night air is scented with spice and the aroma of succulent sweets. On a portable stage, the puppeteer-priest sets up his framed screen and lamps.

He will thrill and enchant a crowd with his puppets. Those present will feel protected from evil influences during the play, so potent is the magic of the shadow performance.

To the women, seated in front of the screen, the leather puppets appear as shadows. The men, behind the screen, see the beautifully painted figures. Children sit close to the puppeteer, imitating his actions and voices with their own paper versions of the puppets.

Find out more about the Performance Gallery at Brighton Museum