Sovanna Phum performance of Shadow

Sovanna Phum performance of Shadow Puppet Theater in Stung Treng Ramsar Site and in Phnom Penh for local communities and policy makers

Mekong Wetlands Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Use Programme (MWBP) in collaboration with Sovanna Phum (Khmer Art association), SP, jointly developed the script for a play highlighting the issues of wetlands and natural resources use experienced in Stung Treng. The story had been developed in consultation with partners: Government agencies concerned, local and international NGOs. There were ten



performances: eight in Stung Treng Province and two in Phnom Penh for policy makers and general public. The artists practiced for two weeks and then went to perform in the MWBP demonstration site - Stung Treng Ramsar site. Sovanna Phum artists trained six villagers for each performance site to perform with the Sovanna Phum group. Their involvement is an additional flavor for audiences in the villages as they played on the scene of their own problem that they are facing such as community fisheries conflict and land concession issues. There were about one thousand spectators at each performance. After the performance there were the questions and answers between the artists and the audience on their concern associated with the issues that the small Shadow puppet performed. The last two performances will be held in Phnom Penh on 29 November and 4 December 2006. The governors, directors or representative of provincial Departments and local communities attended the performance in the provincial town; and local authorities and communities enjoyed the meanings of the story and it is relevance to the issues, which are currently happening in the site