Wayang kulit gedek is a variant of the Thai nang talung shadow play, once freely performed in the southern provinces of Thailand and the northern Malay states. Early in the present century, following certain changes to nang talung and its adaptation, linguistically and culturally, to the local environment, the Malay wayang kulit gedek, was developed in Kedah, Perlis and Kelantan. It has remained localised to these states.
Unlike the puppets used in the other styles of Malay wayang kulit, the wayang kulit gedek figures are smaller, flimsier and transluscent. Most Malay puppeteers still obtain them in Thailand. A set may consist of a hundred or more traditional-style figures representing coarse and refined figures, combined with some that are outrageously modern. Certain figures are carved en face.
The wayang kulit gedek orchestra consists of a pair of inverted gongs (canang), a single headed stick drum (geduk), a single-headed hour-glass shaped drum (gedumbak), a pair of hand cymbals (kesi), a double-reed oboe (serunai), and a pair of suspended gongs (tetawak). Additionally, wooden clappers may be used.
The Thai version of Ramayana, known as Ramakien, at one time served as the principal source of stories for nang talung and through it, for wayang kulit gedek. In recent decades, however, a repertoire based on popular Thai and Malay romances has been developed for wayang kulit gedek. New stories based on totally invented themes or contemporary events have also been featured.
See Ghulam-Sarwar Yousof. Panggung Semar: Aspects of Traditional Malay Theatre.
For further information contact Dr Ghulam-Sarwar Yousof at The Asian Centre, Penang, Malaysia.
Email: gsyousof@angelfire.com
