Wat Ban Don Shadow Play Museum, Rayong

The Wat Ban Don Shadow Play Museum is a museum at Wat Ban Don, a Thai Buddhist temple in Rayong, Thailand. The museujm displays shadow puppets, or Nang Yai, which are popular in southern Thailand. Many of the shadow puppets were brought here from Phatthalung in southern Thailand in 1887.

How the shadow puppets of southern Thailand ended up in eastern Thailand? In the late 19th century, the ruler of Rayong, Phraya Sri Samut Phokhaphai Chokshitsongkhram, heard of the shadow play performances of Phatthalung. He got in touch with the troupe and invited them to Rayong. He was so delighted by the performances that he bought 200 pieces of shadow play puppets, and hired the troupe to teach his subjects in Rayong how to perform shadow plays.

The shadow play stage at Wat Ban Don dates back to 1887, when the shadow puppets were brought over. Over time, the performing art became dated as the people turned to more modern form of entertainment.

In 1980, there was a revival of shadow play performances, with a competition held among villages. Since then, the art become a part of the Thai culture that is still being performed.

At Wat Ban Don Shadow Play Museum, visitors get to see the age-old shadow puppets, the sets, and watch a shadow play performance.

 Latest updates on Penang Travel Tips

Map of Roads in Penang

Looking for information on Penang? Use this Map of Roads in Penang to zoom in on information about Penang, brought to you road by road.

Disclaimer

Please use the information on this page as guidance only. The author endeavours to update the information on this page from time to time, but regrets any inaccuracies if there be any.

Songs about Penang

About this website

Hello and thanks for reading this page. My name is Timothy and my hobby is in describing places so that I can share the information with the general public. My website has become the go to site for a lot of people including students, teachers, journalists, etc. whenever they seek information on places, particularly those in Malaysia and Singapore. I have been doing this since 5 January 2003, for over twenty years already. You can read about me at Discover Timothy. By now I have compiled information on thousands of places, mostly in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, and I continue to add more almost every day. My goal is to describe every street in every town in Malaysia and Singapore.