Celebrating World Puppetry Day

The SOAS Music Department marked the World Puppetry Day on Saturday, March 21, by hosting puppet performances.

The event featured a performance by José Navarro alongside a traditional hand embroidery workshop led by Peruvian artist Bella Lane.

The programme included Chinese ribbon dance, a monkey puppeteering a horse, and a changing-face puppet from the Sichuan opera.

Puppet master José Nava was accompanied live by the SOAS Silk and Bamboo ensemble, with a guest appearance by flautist Mr Ruijun Hu, SOAS music exchange scholar Liqing Xie, Professor of Practice Cheng Yu, and the SOAS Chinese Percussion Society.

In addition, José showcased puppets by the prominent British puppeteer Fred Tickner, including one of a Chinese bell-ringer.

An audience member commented after the show:
 

It is wonderful to have live music accompaniment; it made the puppets come alive!

Monkey puppeteering a horse with musicians.

Main image: Puppet ribbon dance and musicians.

Image credit: Hwee San Tan & Qianbei Chen