PORTLAND — Mayo Street Arts presents a rare opportunity to witness the sacred art of Tholpavakoothu, a traditional Indian shadow puppet performance, on Friday, Dec. 19 at 7 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.). This 75-minute performance with no intermission will feature the extraordinary storytelling of Rahul Koonathara, a 12th-generation practitioner of this centuries-old tradition. Tickets are available for $20 in advance, $23 at the door, and $30 for preferred seating, with pay-what-you-can options.
Believed to have originated in the 9th or 10th century A.D., Tholpavakoothu is a ritualistic performance dedicated to Goddess Bhadra Kali and traditionally staged annually in temples. The art form enacts stories from the Kamba Ramayana, bringing to life the epic battles of Sree Rama and Ravana, while also incorporating tales from the Mahabharata and Panchatantra. Using intricate shadow figures and narrated in Tamil, Malayalam, Hindi, and English, the performance explores the eternal struggle between good and evil. The puppets, including 71 distinct characters and over 160 figures, depict standing, sitting, walking and fighting postures, as well as nature, ceremonial processions and battle scenes.
While Tholpavakoothu remains rooted in ritual, artists like Rahul Koonathara and the Pulavar family have brought the tradition to broader audiences, presenting both timeless mythological stories and narratives of contemporary relevance, including tales of Mahatma Gandhi, Jesus Christ and women’s empowerment. This performance at Mayo Street Arts offers audiences a rare window into a living cultural heritage, demonstrating the enduring power of puppetry to convey complex stories and human values. By hosting Tholpavakoothu, Mayo Street Arts continues its commitment to showcasing puppetry theater in both historical and cultural contexts, connecting local audiences to global traditions and ancient storytelling practices.
For ticket information visit the event page here.
Mayo Street Arts is a welcoming community arts center in the heart of Portland’s Kennedy Park neighborhood. The organization’s building serves as a performance venue, gallery, and gathering space, and offers affordable studios and rehearsal space for artists. Mayo Street Arts’ programming embraces variety, with a particular focus on puppetry and folk music and dance.
Mayo Street Arts does not turn anyone away from its events for lack of funds; please contact the organization at 207-879-4629 or [email protected] for information on their pay-what-you-can admission policy. For more information and tickets, visit www.mayostreetarts.org.
