Sbek Thom

Sbek Thom is a traditional Cambodian shadow puppet theater, where intricately carved leather puppets are used to tell stories, often from Hindu or Buddhist epics, on a backlit screen. Performers manipulate the puppets with rods to create moving images that are accompanied by narration, music, and singing. This art form, dating back centuries, serves as both entertainment and a means to convey cultural and moral stories. Sbek Thom is highly valued as a preserved aspect of Cambodia’s cultural heritage, showcasing craftsmanship, storytelling, and religious traditions within a captivating performance.