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In Shadows (Dalam Bayang-Bayang)
 

A ghost story told through shadow puppetry, live music and dance, In Shadows (Dalam Bayang-Bayang) reimagines a classic tale from Southeast Asian folklore and immerses audiences in a world of shadow, sound and memory.  

Created by visual artist Liang Luscombe, musician and ethnomusicologist Isobel D’Cruz Barnes, and writer–producer Haneen Mahmood Martin, the work follows a woman transformed by betrayal and loss into the pontianak, a spectral figure known for her long black hair, haunting laughter, and lingering presence among the banana trees and frangipani-scented air.  

Enter a world of shadow puppetry inspired by Malaysian wayang kulit, live music by the five-piece ensemble Hantu, and dance-theatre influenced by butoh. Moody, evocative, and steeped in the supernatural, In Shadows (Dalam Bayang-Bayang) offers a contemporary experience of Southeast Asian storytelling, immersing audiences in a haunting spirit world.

 

Event details

Venue: Northcote Town Hall Arts Centre, 189 High Street, Northcote, 3070
Bookings: https://arts.darebin.vic.gov.au/Programs-and-opportunities/Programs/Speakeasy-presentations/In-Shadows
Start Date: Wednesday 24 June 2026

 

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