Women behind the shadows

An all-female troupe is reshaping wayang kulit, reviving and reinventing South-East Asia’s shadow puppetry traditions and bringing a fresh voice to a centuries-old art form.

Members of the all-female Wayang Women troupe making their way through the crowd toward the stage to perform wayang kulit, the traditional shadow puppet theatre long dominated by men, in Kuala Lumpur. — Reuters

Javanese musician Tigra Rose, one of 11 women from across South-East Asia in The Wayang Women ensemble, performing during the show. — Reuters

Malaysian music producer Victoria Yam (left) and master puppeteer Illya Sumanto discussing the musical arrangement for their performance, which blends folklore, humour and music from across the region. — Reuters

Sumanto captivating the audience as she manipulates puppets between light and screen, bringing the shadows to life. — Reuters