What Are Shadows Made Of? : Shadow Puppetry Workshop at Bangalore International Centre

🎭 About the Event

What are shadows made of? What stories can a simple shape tell, and how can movement and colour transform an ordinary shadow into something magical? Explore these questions through What Are Shadows Made Of?, a hands-on shadow-puppetry workshop at Bangalore International Centre, Bengaluru, on Thursday, 5 November 2026.

Designed for participants aged 12 to 18 years, this practical workshop introduces the creative world of shadow puppetry through making, experimenting and play. Participants will learn how to build their own simple shadow puppet using paper, a movable joint and translucent coloured materials. They will then bring their creations to life by experimenting with light, movement, distance, scale and colour.

The workshop encourages participants to discover how shapes can hold stories, how a single movement can communicate an idea, and how colours can add a new dimension to shadows. Through hands-on activities, participants will cut, join, layer, test and play with different materials to understand the basic techniques of shadow-puppet making.

Rather than focusing only on instructions, the session leaves plenty of room for curiosity, imagination and learning through experimentation. Each participant will create a puppet to take home, making the experience both creative and memorable.

The workshop will be led by Debosmita Dam (she/they), a puppeteer, filmmaker and arts educator. Their practice explores how puppetry, materiality and play can create new ways of sensing, understanding, expressing and connecting with the world.

An added benefit is that the workshop ticket also includes free entry to any one of the two plays scheduled on the same day: Hence Proven at 5:00 PM or Level Up at 7:30 PM. This gives participants an opportunity to extend their experience of the performing arts beyond the workshop.

Conducted in English with Kannada translation, the session welcomes young creative minds who are interested in storytelling, visual arts, theatre, puppetry and hands-on creative exploration.

✂️ What to Expect at the Workshop

Introduction to Shadow Puppetry: Discover how light, shapes and movement work together to create shadow-based storytelling.

Hands-on Puppet Making: Learn to build a simple shadow puppet using paper, one movable joint and translucent coloured materials.

Creative Material Exploration: Cut, join and layer different materials to understand how they influence the appearance and movement of a puppet.

Experimenting with Light and Shadows: Test your puppet against light and explore how distance, scale and movement can change the resulting shadow.

Storytelling Through Movement: Discover how shapes can communicate ideas and how even a small movement can become part of a story.

A Puppet to Take Home: Every participant will make their own shadow puppet and take it home after the workshop.

Guidance from an Experienced Artist: Learn from puppeteer, filmmaker and arts educator Debosmita Dam through a practical and exploratory session.

🌈 Workshop Highlights

Workshop Name: What Are Shadows Made Of?

Date: Thursday, 5 November 2026

Time: 5:00 PM

Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes

Venue: Bangalore International Centre, Bengaluru

Age Range: 12 to 18 years

Workshop Format: Practical shadow-puppetry workshop

Language: English with Kannada translation

Workshop Facilitator: Debosmita Dam (she/they)

Take-Home Activity: Each participant makes and takes home a shadow puppet.

Additional Benefit: The workshop ticket includes free entry to one of two plays happening on the same day.

🎨 Meet the Workshop Facilitator: Debosmita Dam

The workshop will be led by Debosmita Dam (she/they), a puppeteer, filmmaker and arts educator whose creative practice explores the relationship between puppetry, materials and play.

Through their work, Debosmita examines how creative processes can open up different ways of sensing, knowing, expressing and relating to the world. Their approach makes puppetry an opportunity not only to create characters and stories but also to explore ideas through materials, movement and imagination.

Participants will benefit from their guidance as they experiment with simple puppet-making techniques and discover the expressive possibilities of light and shadow.

🎟️ Complimentary Play Entry with the Workshop Ticket

One of the special features of this workshop is that the ticket also provides free entry to any one of the two plays taking place on the same day.

Participants can choose between:

Hence Proven: Scheduled at 5:00 PM.

Level Up: Scheduled at 7:30 PM.

The complimentary entry is valid for one of these two plays, not both. Attendees should check the organiser's instructions and confirm the entry arrangements for their chosen performance.

👥 Who Can Attend?

This workshop is designed for young participants aged 12 to 18 years who are interested in exploring creative activities and learning through hands-on experiences.

It may particularly appeal to teenagers interested in theatre, puppetry, storytelling, filmmaking, visual arts, craft-making and experimental performance. No specific prior experience in shadow puppetry is mentioned in the event description, making the workshop an opportunity to explore the art form through guided practice.

📌 Important Information for Participants

Arrival: Attendees are advised to arrive at the venue 60 minutes before the scheduled event time for a smooth entry.

Age Requirement: The workshop is intended for participants aged 12 to 18 years. Age restrictions apply, and refunds will not be provided if attendees are unaware of the restrictions.

Language Support: The workshop will be conducted in English, with Kannada translation.

Take-Home Creation: Every participant will make a shadow puppet to take home.

Play Access: The workshop ticket includes complimentary entry to one of the two plays, Hence Proven at 5:00 PM or Level Up at 7:30 PM.

Photography and Recording: Photography and videography using mobile phones are not permitted. Cameras and audio or video recording equipment are also prohibited inside the venue.

Food and Beverages: Food and beverages are not permitted inside the auditorium.

Parking: Parking is available, subject to availability. Vehicles are parked at the owner's risk.

📋 Terms and Conditions

Registration and Refunds: Once registration is completed, tickets cannot be exchanged or refunded, except in cases of event postponement or cancellation.

Arrival Time: Attendees should arrive at least 60 minutes before the scheduled event time to ensure a smooth entry.

Late Arrival: Failure to arrive within the specified time may result in allocated seats being released.

Seat Allocation: Seats are subject to availability and are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Age Restrictions: Age restrictions and event rules apply. No refunds will be provided if attendees are unaware of the applicable restrictions.

Venue Rules: Tickets are issued according to the rules and regulations of the event organiser and venue management.

Ticket Validity: Each ticket is valid for one person only.

Photography and Recording Consent: By entering or participating in the event, attendees consent to being photographed, filmed or recorded by electronic and print media for the organisers' telecast, publication and display purposes.

Right of Admission: The venue reserves the right of admission.

Prohibited Items: Cameras, bottles, cans and tins are not allowed inside the venue. The use of audio or video recording equipment is strictly prohibited.

Mobile Phone Photography: Photography and videography using mobile phones are not permitted.

Food and Beverages: Food and beverages are not permitted inside the auditorium.

Personal Belongings and Safety: The NCPA does not take responsibility for the loss or theft of personal belongings or for injuries sustained by ticket holders during the event.

Event Changes: The event is subject to change and force majeure conditions.

Schedule Changes: The starting time of the event may change without prior notice.

Late Entry for Classical Concerts: As per venue management's discretion, late entry for classical concerts will be permitted only during breaks between movements or pieces, as indicated by venue ushers.

Alcohol and Banned Substances: The consumption of alcohol and other banned substances is strictly prohibited.

Mobile Phones: Cell phones must be switched off inside the auditorium once the performance begins.

Smoking: Smoking is strictly prohibited.

Parking: Parking is available subject to availability. Vehicles are parked at the owners' risk.