Tolpavakoothu

Something very different in the International Puppet Festival is Tolpavakoothu, a company from Kerala in southern India with a shadow puppet play which tells the story of the Ramayana. It is based on the Tamil version composed by the poet Kambar during the 9th century A.D.

To follow the story, it is really necessary to read carefully the supplied hand-out. Mother Earth (as a sacred cow) seeks the help of Vishnu to combat a plague of demons. He agrees, and is born as the earthman Rama. There follows a saga of battles, deceit, monstrous birds, a noble monkey, duels and victory for the forces of good. The complex play, of which this is a compressed version of the marathon which plays in a temple ritual, is enacted on a specially constructed stage. A white rectangular cloth runs its length, with a row of lighted candles behind. The flat puppets (150 of them!), made from deer skin, are manipulated between cloth and light by eight performers who also chant and play percussion instruments.

There is a sense of an exotic and ancient tradition here, an invocation of god-myths in a form unique to its time and place.

The company has never been away from its native place before, and there is something special that goes beyond entertainment in seeing them perform. It is a fascinating inclusion in the week's festival. Until 18th September. Festival runs to Sunday 21st September; booking at 01-2800974/ 2801863