Editing Shadow play (section)

{{Short description|Ancient form of storytelling}}
{{about|shadows cast by puppet figures|shadows cast by hands|Shadowgraphy (performing art)|other uses|Shadowplay (disambiguation)}}
{{Redirect|Shadow puppets}}
[[File:Ki Sigit Ariyanto Dalang Wayang Kulit.jpg|thumb|270px|A performance of ''[[wayang]]'', an Indonesian shadow puppet form]]

'''Shadow play''', also known as '''shadow puppetry''', is an ancient form of [[storytelling]] and [[entertainment]] which uses flat articulated cut-out figures (shadow puppets) which are held between a source of light and a translucent screen or [[scrim (material)|scrim]]. The cut-out shapes of the puppets sometimes include translucent color or other types of detailing. Various effects can be achieved by moving both the puppets and the light source. A skilled [[puppeteer]] can make the figures appear to walk, dance, fight, nod and laugh. 

There are four different types of performances in shadow play: the actors using their bodies as shadows, puppets where the actors hold them as shadows in the daytime, spatial viewing, and viewing the shadows from both sides of the screen.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Özcan |first=Oğuzhan |date=July 2002 |title=Cultures, the Traditional Shadow Play, and Interactive Media Design |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1162/074793602320223262 |journal=Design Issues |volume=18 |issue=3 |pages=18–26 |doi=10.1162/074793602320223262 |issn=0747-9360|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

Shadow play is popular in various cultures, among both children and adults in many countries around the world. More than 20 countries are known to have shadow show troupes. Shadow play is an old tradition and is listed as a [[Syria|Syrian]] intangible cultural heritage by [[UNESCO]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=UNESCO - Shadow play |url=https://ich.unesco.org/en/USL/shadow-play-01368 |access-date=2023-12-23 |website=ich.unesco.org |language=en}}</ref> It also has a long history in [[Southeast Asia]], especially in [[Indonesia]], [[Malaysia]], [[Thailand]], and [[Cambodia]]. It has been an ancient art and a living folk tradition in [[China]], [[India]], [[Iran]] and [[Nepal]]. It is also known in [[Egypt]], [[Turkey]], [[Greece]], [[Germany]], [[France]], and the [[United States]].<ref name=orr69/><ref name=bosnes302>{{cite book|author=Beth Osnes|title=Acting: An International Encyclopedia |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WTkCI62oXjEC&pg=PA335 |year=2001| publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn= 978-0-87436-795-9|page=302}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Beth Osnes|title=The Shadow Puppet Theatre of Malaysia: A Study of Wayang Kulit with Performance Scripts and Puppet Designs|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ykQlV616gX4C |year=2010|publisher=McFarland|isbn=978-0-7864-5792-2|pages=61–63}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ich.unesco.org/en/decisions|title=UNESCO - Decision of the Intergovernmental Committee: 13.COM 10.A.7|website=ich.unesco.org|language=en|access-date=2019-12-17}}</ref>