Wayang Wong

Wayang Wong (wayang: shadow/puppet; wong: man) is an ornate court dance-drama, whose origins can be traced back to the East Javanese Majapahit kingdom. The fall of the Majapahit Empire in 1478 AD saw a migration of its population to Bali, bringing along its culture and arts, one of which was wayang wong.

The aesthetic and music of wayang wong is similar to that of wayang kulit (shadow puppetry): it is usually accompanied by a large-scale court gamelan orchestra, with narrative material taken from the Hindu epics, the Mahabharata and the Ramayana. Instead of shadow puppets on a screen, human dancers act out the story through ‘two-dimensional’ movements that imitate the left-right movement of shadow puppets. 

The performance of wayang wong is a sacred heritage in Tejakula, Northern Bali: original masks from the 16th century are kept in the Pemaksan Temple, and taken out only for the sacred performance, which takes place on a particular day of the calendar (those performing in commercial performances use duplicate masks).

In sacred performances, performers are chosen based on their lineage, their ancestors having made a pact to serve the temple and holy spirits through dance. The performers have to be multi-talented, and are required to learn the dance routines of their specific character, the dialogue and singing, all of which are in the ancient Javanese language of Kawi. 

Contrary to the seriousness that one might expect from ritual theatre, the element of comedy is integral to the performance. Performances begin with a preface by two comedic characters, usually stock characters such as a prime minister, a clown, or an old man, before the actual wayang wong. 

Catch three different Wayang Wong dramas from the Ramayana performed at A Tapestry of Sacred Music 2024: The Abduction of Sita, Subali and Sugriwa, and Hanuman the messenger.

12 Apr, Fri 

8pm: The Abduction of Sita 

9.30pm: The Fight between Subali and Sugriwa

14 Apr, Sun 

8.15pm: Hanuman the Messenger