The Theft of Sita

Inspired by the Sanskrit epic Ramayana, artists from Australia and Indonesia join forces in The Theft of Sita. This gorgeously rendered shadow puppet drama is about environmental destruction, political unrest, and corporate greed. An English narrative tracks the actions of more than 150 expertly handled puppets that flit before a gigantic white screen. Vivid computer graphics embellish this duotone world and remarkable score, an exhilarating cross-cultural pollination of Balinese gamelan orchestra with contemporary Western jazz.