"Tholpavakoothu: Shadow Puppet Play of Kerala, India" at Allerton Overlook | Summer Outdoor Series
When:
Friday, Jul 25, 2025 8:00p -
9:00p
Friday, Jul 25, 2025 8:00p -
9:00p
Where:
Allerton Overlook
203 Pond Ave
Brookline, MA 02445
Admission:
$This performance from the Summer Outdoor Series is Pay-What-You-Can! We invite you to choose the price that works best for you and your family. However, this series is only possible due to contributions from audience members like you!
Hosted by:
Categories:
Art, Kid Friendly, Shows
Event website:
https://www.puppetshowplace.org/calendar/2025/07/25/tholpavakoothu-ramayana-shadow-puppet-play-of-kerala-summer-outdoor-series
About the Show
Scenes from the Ramayana by Tholpavakoothu Puppet Centre, co-presented by Breakfast Puppets
Presented in English
Experience shadow puppetry by firelight! Witness scenes from the dramatic epic Ramayana, complete with scenes of battles, trickery, and the natural world, performed by masters of Tholpavakoothu, a traditional form of shadow puppetry from Kerala, India. Come at 8:00 pm to try your hand at manipulating the handmade leather puppets, with guidance from our visiting artists; and then as dusk falls, stay to see a performance.
Even puppet fans may never have seen shadow puppetry like this — the screen is illuminated by 21 lighted lamps made of coconuts cut in half, filled with coconut oil and lit with cotton wicks. About 160 puppets are used for this performance!
This ensemble is led by Rahul Koonathara, a 13th-generation practitioner of this traditional form of fire-lit shadow puppetry from Kerala, India.
All ages welcome; recommended for everyone 4 and up! No matter your age, you will be delighted by the storytelling, drama, and skill displayed in this traditional art form.
About the Artists
Rahul Koonathara (he/him) is an accomplished artist and a 12th generation shadow puppet practitioner from Kerala, India. He holds a BFA in physics and theatre, an MA in Comparative Literature, and is currently working towards his PhD. He is also the recipient of UConn’s Harriott Fellowship. He has toured extensively through the U.S. and has dedicated his life to preserving and showcasing this extraordinary art form on national and international platforms.
Anthony Sellitto-Budney (they/them) is a graduate of the UConn Puppet Arts BFA Program and founder of BreakFAST Puppets. They are a puppeteer, clown, and performance artist and have been featured in the NOLA Giant Puppet Fest, the Asheville Fringe Fest, and were the 2023 Emerging Artist at the Eugene O’Neill Puppetry Conference.
This presentation was made possible in part with support from the Brookline Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Community Relations.
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