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Shadow puppetry (ƤӰϷ p¨ª y¨«ng x¨¬) is a theatre art using silhouetted puppets for storytelling. Puppet shows often feature music ( ÒôÀÖ y¨©n yu¨¨) and singing ( ³ª¸è ch¨¤ng g¨¥).

The puppets are made from leather or paper and can have as many as twenty four (¶þÊ®ËÄ ¨¨r sh¨ª s¨¬) moving joints. They are used for entertainment at traditional Chinese weddings and other special occasions.

You will need:

• an A4 sheet of thin card (¿¨Æ¬ k¨£ pi¨¤n)
• a pair of safety scissors (¼ôµ¶ ji¨£n d¨¡o)
• coloured pens (Ë®²Ê±Ê shu¨« c¨£i b¨«) or pencils ( Ǧ±Ê qi¨¡n b¨«)
• a cardboard box
• glue (½ºË® ji¨¡o shu¨«) or tape ( ½º´ø ji¨¡o d¨¤i)
• a sheet of white tissue paper or greaseproof paper
• several sticks - lollipop sticks will work well
• a torch (ÊÖµçͲ sh¨¯u di¨¤n t¨¯ng)

Instructions:

1. Print out (´òÓ¡ d¨£ y¨¬n) the template onto an A4 sheet of thin card.

2. Carefully cut out the puppet figures along the dotted lines.

3. Colour in the puppets and attach each to a stick using tape or glue.

4. Carefully cut a large hole in the front of the box. Tape the white tissue paper or greaseproof paper behind the hole.

5. You can then decorate (×°ÊÎ zhu¨¡ng sh¨¬) your stage ( Îę̀ w¨³ t¨¢i).

6. Put the torch behind the paper and direct your own shadow puppet production.

If you don't have a printer, why not try drawing your own puppet figures?

Click below to download the instructions and template