Chinese shadow play has been acclaimed around the world but suffered from competing forms of entertainment.

In shadow play, the stage set consists of nothing more than a paper or cloth screen, illuminated from behind. Puppeteers standing behind manipulate delicately fashioned puppets on sticks. The figures are typically made from donkey leather and dyed with bright, strong colours.

Puppet masters also sing in various types of male and female voices, and speak in dialogues, to tell the story.

Only the colourful shadows of the bright figures along with various props are seen on the screen by the audience.

Near the main actors behind the screen, a small group of musicians play traditional musical instruments as accompaniment as well as singing in the chorus.

The art has survived for some 2,200 years, since first appearing in the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 24). It now faces extinction.

Yet there remain some expert shadow play troupes who are still active in the Huanxian County of Northwest China's Gansu Province, the Home of Shadow Play in China.

Largely this is because the underdeveloped region still lacks a complete electricity network ruling out the alternative of television and other forms of modern entertainment for many.

The local government has stepped up efforts to save and promote the art. It hopes to see it officially recognized by the United Nations as a so called Non-Material Oral Culture Heritage.

A local shadow play troupe last October came to Beijing to perform for both Chinese college students and foreign diplomats. The show was a sweeping success, enthusiastically received by the audience.

This April's show by the Huanxian Shadow Play Troupe, led by key performer Shi Chenglin, is the first public performance of its kind organized by Beijing Tongji Culture Exchange Co.

Six performers from Gansu Province's Huanxian County will perform.

The accompanying music is played on the erhu and the sixian (respectively two- and four-stringed instruments), as well as wooden clappers, a small bamboo drum, a flute and a suona (a small trumpet).

The puppet masters, often one, or two at most, are highly skilled in singing and narrating performances that can last up to four hours - without a script.

To help foreigners better understand the show, an interpreter will be present. The show will also be subtitled.

Tickets: 40 to 200 yuan (US$4.81-24.09). Those who buy tickets at 200 yuan will be given a shadow puppet figure in finely carved cow leather as a souvenir.

Time/date: 2:30 pm, 7:30 pm, April 25-27

Location: Beibingmasi Theatre, Beibingmasi Lane, Dongcheng District

Tel: 6567-3524, 6567-4600

(Beijing Weekend April 21, 2003)