Panji and the Lost Princess

April 18, 7:30pm - 9:30pm
Mānoa Campus, 1770 East-West Rd

Panji and the Lost Princess
Balinese Wayang Listrik (giant shadow puppets in combination with live action and gamelan orchestra)

Co-Directed by Kristin Pauka and I Madé Moja
Adapted from a traditional Balinese folktale by Ketut Wirtawan and Madé Moja
April 17-26, 2026
*Pre-Show Chats at 6:45pm before Saturday performances

Panji and the Lost Princess is a large-scale Balinese shadow puppetry performance in the tradition of wayang listrik. The story is based on the Balinese interpretation of a traditional Javanese story, and adapted to the genre of wayang listrik by Balinese master artists I Ketut Wirtawan and I Madé Moja. The show is dynamically staged with giant shadow puppetry, actors, dancers, special lighting effects, and is accompanied by a live gamelan ensemble, led by master musician I Madé Widana.
The style of the production, wayang listrik (Indonesian for “electric shadows”), is a recent development in Balinese shadow puppetry that emerged in the late 1990s. What distinguishes this art form from others is the inclusion of giant screens, paintings, complex lighting, 3-dimensional effects, and dancers, as well as actors behind the screen, wearing shadow masks carved in a similar manner as traditional kulit (“leather”) puppets.
Moja has staged two previous wayang listrik productions at Kennedy Theatre: Subali-Sugriwa – Battle of the Monkey Kings and The Last King of Bali. We are thrilled that he will return this season to serve as the master designer and co-director of this production.


Event Sponsor
Theatre & Dance, Mānoa Campus

More Information
8089567655, ktbox@hawaii.edu,

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