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What is Wyang?
Wayang is a type of
puppetry using shadow puppets and the Gamelan. Wayang is normally
performed by one dhalang (puppeteer), but sometimes the dhalang may
call upon another puppeteers to help him/her. During the wayang
there may be a clown scene, where the dhalangs get to make fun of
high ranking members of society, and the Gamelan players.
In
the wyang the main character is a golden deer called Kancil, who is
a bit cheeky. Kancil will take it on himself to right the wrongs
that humans have made. Normally these things are to do with politics
and things in the local area.
At The
Evening
The Wayang Kancil evening was very productive with some very
important guests including the Indonesian Cultural Attaché , the
Deputy Mayor of Hastings, The Chairman of The Asian Music Circuit
and Mr Wakely the William Parker School headteacher. The evening
started with children from local schools performing there own Wayang
Kancil scenes with a variety of puppets that they had made in
workshops beforehand, which were led by Niall Stuchfield.
They also did some dance pieces
which where choreographed
by Gill Roberts. The dance pieces were about a young warrior prince
who is fighting a battle. After making sure the coast is clear, they
show off their grace and strength. The dance was accompanied by
Gamelan music. Gill also did a traditional dance from Indonesia
called Bapang.
Gill is the only person in Britain who can perform this dance (it
looks extremely complex), which is just as well because shes the
only person in Britain with a Bapang mask. The dance itself is named
after Bapang, a bit of a prankster in Indonesia. In the dance you
see him imitating many animal movements before disappearing swiftly
as soon as trouble comes. The evening finished with Wayang Kancil
performed by Sarah Bilby, accompanied by William Parker School and
Golden Deer Gamelan groups.
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