which is set to open officially in July. (Photo: Tin Htet Paing / The Irrawaddy)|A theatregoer pulls the strings at the Htwe Oo Myanmar marionette troupe’s new theatre in downtown Rangoon. (Photo: Tin Htet Paing / The Irrawaddy)|The audience at a performance by the Htwe Oo Myanmar marionette troupe at their new theatre in downtown Rangoon. (Photo: Tin Htet Paing / The Irrawaddy)|Puppeteers show audience members how to manipulate the strings. (Photo: Tin Htet Paing / The Irrawaddy)|Puppets hanging on the wall of the Htwe Oo Myanmar marionette troupe’s new theatre in downtown Rangoon. (Photo: Tin Htet Paing / The Irrawaddy)|Htwe Oo Myanmar marionette troupe members manipulate the strings. (Photo: Tin Htet Paing / The Irrawaddy)|One of the Htwe Oo Myanmar marionette troupe’s puppets. (Photo: Tin Htet Paing / The Irrawaddy)
Puppets hanging on the wall of the Htwe Oo Myanmar marionette troupe’s new theatre in downtown Rangoon. (Photo: Tin Htet Paing / The Irrawaddy)
Puppets in action during a performance by the Htwe Oo Myanmar marionette troupe at their new theatre in downtown Rangoon, which is set to open officially in July. (Photo: Tin Htet Paing / The Irrawaddy)
Puppets in action during a performance by the Htwe Oo Myanmar marionette troupe at their new theatre in downtown Rangoon, which is set to open officially in July. (Photo: Tin Htet Paing / The Irrawaddy)
A theatregoer pulls the strings at the Htwe Oo Myanmar marionette troupe’s new theatre in downtown Rangoon. (Photo: Tin Htet Paing / The Irrawaddy)
The audience at a performance by the Htwe Oo Myanmar marionette troupe at their new theatre in downtown Rangoon. (Photo: Tin Htet Paing / The Irrawaddy)
Puppeteers show audience members how to manipulate the strings. (Photo: Tin Htet Paing / The Irrawaddy)
Puppets hanging on the wall of the Htwe Oo Myanmar marionette troupe’s new theatre in downtown Rangoon. (Photo: Tin Htet Paing / The Irrawaddy)
Htwe Oo Myanmar marionette troupe members manipulate the strings. (Photo: Tin Htet Paing / The Irrawaddy)
One of the Htwe Oo Myanmar marionette troupe’s puppets. (Photo: Tin Htet Paing / The Irrawaddy)
Htwe Oo Myanmar co-founder Khin Maung Htwe pictured at his group’s new venue in downtown Rangoon. (Photo: Tin Htet Paing / The Irrawaddy)||Puppets hanging on the wall of the Htwe Oo Myanmar marionette troupe’s new theatre in downtown Rangoon. (Photo: Tin Htet Paing / The Irrawaddy)|Puppets hanging on the wall of the Htwe Oo Myanmar marionette troupe’s new theatre in downtown Rangoon. (Photo: Tin Htet Paing / The Irrawaddy)|Puppets in action during a performance by the Htwe Oo Myanmar marionette troupe at their new theatre in downtown Rangoon
RANGOON — Traditional Burmese puppetry is set to receive a boost in the country’s commercial capital with the opening of a new performance space dedicated to showcasing the once dying art form.
The small theater, with the capacity to seat 25 people, is scheduled to open officially in July on Sule Pagoda Road in downtown Rangoon.
The Htwe Oo Myanmar marionette troupe will perform in the space that is being managed by Easy Myanmar Travel and Tour, who will handle ticketing and marketing arrangements at the venue.
Htwe Oo Myanmar has called a number of performance spaces home over the years, including the odd family living room. Former theaters opened by the group in Rangoon were forced to close due to a lack of public interest but hopes are higher this time around.
“We eventually performed puppetry at my home and after two or three customers came, our puppet group gradually attracted attention,” said Tin Tin Oo, the manager of the Rangoon-based troupe.
Performances at the new venue are slated to run twice daily, at 6 pm and 8 pm. But for now, the puppeteers are happy to perform whenever a crowd of at least five theatergoers turns up.
Admission fees are US$10 for adults and $5 for children.
“In our previous shows, we let the Burmese [patrons] watch for free… but now [the theatre] is decorated like a small cinema and we have invested so much money so we charge fees for local people,” Tin Tin Oo said.
Tin Tin Oo established the marionette troupe with her husband Khin Maung Htwe in 2006 with the aim of reviving interest in the culturally significant art form.
Puppetry has a long history in Burma and was once performed as entertainment for the country’s royalty and during carnivals and events such as Buddhist full moon days where shows, particularly popular among rural populations, often lasted an entire night.
Last year, Htwe Oo Myanmar was honored with the Best Puppet Animation award at the Harmony World Puppet Carnival in Thailand, one of the world’s largest puppet festivals.
