Creative Encounters: Shadow Puppets from Kerala
Join us to discover an ancient form of Keralan puppet-making and carve out your own puppet with artist and designer Rose Antony.
Tholpavakoothu is a ritualistic form of shadow puppetry performed at temples dedicated to Goddess Kali in Kerala. Practiced by the Pulavars, the only surviving puppetry community in Kerala, who preserve the art form and train new artists.
Journey alongside others to recreate this traditional craft form along with Keralan-born, London-based artist and designer Rose Antony. Guided by Antony, choose a traditional classical character to reproduce in paper form, carving out traditional symbols and iconography to create your own beautiful puppet to take home.
Rose Antony uses these traditional puppets as a canvas to draw stories of resilience and liberation. As part of this event, you’ll be introduced to her work, in which the intricate details of the puppets and storytelling merge to provide a powerful commentary on gender and societal norms.
Each puppet becomes a canvas, reflecting the struggles and resilience of individuals, ultimately questioning and challenging the boundaries set by tradition, crafting a new dialogue about gender roles.
Creative Encounters is your creative space in the heart of the city, bringing together Londoners old and new for art, making and conversation.
Need to know
This is a free event with no booking required but there is limited capacity. We recommend arriving early to secure a seat. If we reach capacity, you may need to queue.
Our friendly sessions are designed for both those attending on their own or with others; there are opportunities to socialise and take part in activities together, but you are also very welcome to have a solo experience.
Creative Encounters is a fortnightly programme; dates are sometimes subject to change, so do always check the website. It is part of our Open Doors programme, a regular series of free events welcoming audiences to get creative and connect.
For your visit
This event is held at the The Clore Ballroom Southbank Centre
The Clore Ballroom is open six days a week.
Tuesday, 10am – 6pm*
Wednesday – Sunday, 10am – 11pm
Monday, closed.
*If we’re hosting a performance, the building will stay open until the event ends.
Plan your visit
The Clore Ballroom is located inside our Royal Festival Hall on Level 2.
Getting here
Our address is Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX.
The nearest tube stations to us are Waterloo and Embankment; Waterloo is also the nearest train station. And more than 20 different London bus routes pass within 500 metres of our venues. More information on getting here by rail, road or river is available on our Getting here page.
We’re cash-free
Please note that we’re unable to accept cash payments across our venues.
Access
We’re working hard to remove barriers, so that our facilities and events can be accessible to as many people as possible.
All help points, toilets, performance and exhibition spaces at the Southbank Centre are accessible to all, as are the cafes, bars and restaurants. We also have excellent public transport links with step-free access.
There is step-free access to The Clore Ballroom, Level 2, Royal Festival Hall, via a ramp.
All information about booking wheelchair spaces, step-free access, blue badge parking, access maps and guides and other help available whilst you’re here, including details about our Access Scheme, can be found on our Access page.
Food & drink
Next to The Clore Ballroom is our Ballroom Cafe where you can grab a coffee and a piece of freshly made cake. Also on Level 2 of our Royal Festival Hall you can grab a slice of life by the Thames with drinks and freshly made pizza at our Festival Bar & Kitchen which opens out onto our Riverside Terrace.
From coffee to cocktails, filling favourites to fine dining, plus some of London’s best street food – it’s all here at the Southbank Centre.