Detail, Javanese rod puppet, mid to late 20th century

Rod puppet performances often celebrate special occasions. The show takes place outside, blocking the street for most of the evening.

Before the show, the puppeteer prays and makes offerings to the gods so that they might bless the stage and the puppets.

As he manipulates the figures, the puppeteer's head is in full view of the audience. He introduces the story and announces the puppets as they appear on stage. Good characters approach from the right, bad ones from the left. Each character has its unique voice and way of moving.

Find out more

- Javanese rod puppets in Brighton Museum's collection
- Find out more about Javanese rod puppet performance

How are Javanese rod puppets displayed in Performance Gallery?

	Java shadow and rod puppets in Performance Gallery

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.