The theatrical puppet performances that captivate the audience with fascinating plots used to be a form of traditional entertainment in Sri Lanka. However, traditional puppetry now clings to their last refuge in the island’s south coast. With almost life-sized marionettes dressed in vibrant clothing, local puppetry performances are a fascinating spectacle to behold.

Experience Overview

Meet your host, a 4th generation puppeteer who is trying to revive the fading art of puppetry by adding a contemporary twist to make the traditional puppet performances all the more interesting. Visit a puppet art museum with your host and learn about Sri Lanka’s puppetry that traces its roots back to the 12th century. Discover popular puppet characters as your host regales you with tales about his great grandfather’s puppet shows in old Ceylon. Finally, enjoy an entertaining puppet show lined up with three acts performed to the beats of traditional Sri Lankan music. You can also take a chance to pull some strings and learn the art of manipulating a puppet from a professional puppeteer.

Includes:

A host, puppet museum visit and a puppet show.

Duration:

Approx. 1 hour.

Difficulty:

Easy.

Suitable for children:

Good for children over the age of three.

What to wear or bring along:

Camera, comfortable clothes

Private or not?

Private

Gallery

Puppets Alive - Experience - Sri Lanka In Style

Videos

Managing Expectations

“ It is important to remember that, whilst they are experts in their field, the people who run or host our experiences are not necessarily used to working in the tourism industry and may not offer the level of service you would find at a five-star hotel. For example, instead of a formal lecture, you may get a relaxed conversation where open discussion is encouraged. All of our hosts are, however, extremely engaging, knowledgeable and passionate about educating visitors about their chosen subject and we have worked with them to ensure that they deliver worthwhile, fulfilling experiences. We welcome feedback, so please let us know what you thought and if you think any improvements could be made to the experiences we offer. ”

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Puppets Alive