ShadowWorld DVD

Teatro Gioco Vita, Italy: Firebird (I.Stravinsky)

Reviewed by Ray DaSilva 3/12/09

In 1988 Rainer Reusch, retired teacher and puppeteer founded the International Shadow Theatre Centre at Schwäbisch Gmünd in Germany and organised the world’s first International Festival of Contemporary Shadow Theatre which has been held triennially ever since. He has produced books on the art of the shadow and now An inspirational DVD narrated in English language which brings those books ‘to life’. This English version lasts 41 minutes and provides a wonderful eye-opener for anyone who thought shadow puppets were always operated behind, and in contact with, a small rectangular white screen.

After a very brief introduction showing front and backstage of a performance of traditional Indonesian Wayang Kulit (which goes back to the pre-Christian era with performances of episodes from the Hindu Mahabarata and Ramayana), the narrator, Colin McDougall whisks us immediately forward to the mid 20th Century. It was then that the halogen light bulb was developed which revolutionised the possibilities of shadow theatre. A slower transition would have paused to mention the 19th century French pioneering work of Henri Rivière and others who used projected shadows at cabaret theatres and of course Adolf Linnebach who used projection lanterns with a concentrated filament in the early 1900s. But this disc sets a good pace providing teasing glimpses of a wide range of contemporary shadow theatre, presented by leading companies from several countries and highlights from festivals over the last 20 years. Some tell stories, some are abstract, some funny, some are really beautiful, some of gigantic proportions and some almost supernatural. There are also examples of cross-fertilisation with other art forms such as mime, opera, film, dance, and architecture. Companies represented are too numerous to mention here but outstanding to my eyes include: Amoros et Augustin, Teatro Gioco Vita, Budrugana, and of course the much-loved Richard Bradshaw who bucks the current trend by using screen contact figures with a small rectangular screen.

Rainer Reusch continues to manage the Shadow Theatre Centre, which is based in old Dominican monastery but has now handed over the organising of festivals to Sybille Hirzel. Since their conception, the festivals have received enthusiastic support from the town of Schwäbisch Gmünd which is now building a shadow theatre museum to house several hundred figures from all over the world in interactive displays. The next festival is planned for 2012.

I enjoyed the disc very much, I wish it had been a bit longer but that’s a good sign; the music by Simon Rössler is just right and not obtrusive. My wish is that just as Reusch’s first book led the way to the Schattentheater trilogy, so we shall have three more DVD along similar lines. Meanwhile you can order the first one from Mask and Puppet books (link in right column ->
It could make a nice Christmas gift –even to yourself.

See also link to the Centre’s website. ->

Rainer Reusch with a traditional and a modern shadow figure