Lunar New Year is coming soon, with pandemic restrictions keep us at home, many will be looking for family activities to keep them entertained. Gateway Theatre is using the occasion to celebrate one of the oldest puppetry traditions in the world, Chinese shadow puppetry! With its origins in the Han Dynasty, shadow puppetry remains one of the most enchanting if precarious forms of Chinese folk art— and Gateway Theatre is proud to be part of the movement to preserve this unique art form through their Chinese Shadow Puppetry Workshops.
Following the success of their Hallow’s Eve Paper Theatre Kit, from last autumn, Gateway is welcoming the Lunar New Year with another opportunity for young creatives and their families to use their imagination through puppetry in the comfort of their own homes —Gateway’s Chinese Shadow Puppetry Workshops
On February 15thand 21st Annie Katsura Rollins will lead a digital Zoom workshop on the subject. The artist, whose own “shadow puppet hunt” took her deep into tiny villages where the tradition survived both the Cultural Revolution and the realities of modern China will host the hands-on adventure into the 2000-year-old art form.
In the workshop, families will learn about the fascinating history of Chinese shadow puppetry and how these puppets are made through interactive photos and videos. Annie will then take participants step-by-step in creating their own shadow puppets to bring their shadows to life! This two-part series kicks off February 15th with a Family Session geared towards kids aged 8-12, while a Community Session including a Mandarin interpreter for anyone eager to revisit a unique corner of their own cultural history, follows on February 21st.
Don’t miss this opportunity to explore alternate forms of theatre and Chinese culture! Registration is just $5 but capacity is limited so register now at gatewaytheatre.com/chinese-shadow-puppetry-workshop.