About Nang Talung

Nang Talung (Southern Thai Shadow Puppet Theater) is a form of entertainment that uses the shadow as its principle device, the same as Nang Yai (literally, big puppets). But the elaborateness and intricacy of Nang Talung is less, and the puppets are smaller in size than Nang Yai.

What is important is that the telling of the story is local and follows the local patterns of simple speech that the villagers use. This is because the puppeteer recites extemporaneous Thai verse in the local dialect. There is a lively spoken exchange between characters that pleases the audience. One of the charms of Nang Talung is the group of clown characters who are well known, for example, Ai Khainui and Ai Si Kaeo. It is believed that these clowns are real living beings and that they have special personalities that are amusing. The puppeteer presents the lives of the puppets and puts them into the drama that is played out in a world which moves across the screen. He creates entertainment for people to watch.

Nang Talung originated in the southern part of the country. Some people call it Nang Khuan because it originated in the village of Khuan Maphraw in Patlung province. But Nang Talung spread to other areas of the country, for example, in the North to Uthaithani province and in the East to Rayong province. The Northeast has this type of entertainment, but it is called Nang Phramod. We can concluded that Nang Talung is truly the entertainment of villagers in every area.

from http://www.seasite.niu.edu/thai/Sikaeo/intronang