Shadow Puppet Lectures

Tuesday 13 January, 2pm

Myth and Legend in Shadow Theatre

Once upon a time, as the stars came out, intricate shadows danced to ancient music. In this public lecture Associate Professor Sam Bowker will survey the global histories of shadow theatre. We will see rare puppets, learn the stories they once shared, and see how artists past and present have made shadows dance to new tunes.

Wednesday 14 January, 2pm

The Spectacular Tentmakers of Cairo

The Egyptian tentmakers are rock stars of the quilt world, and for centuries they sewed textile architecture in resplendent colours and complex patterns. This lecture reveals their history and legacy through real stories, creative collaborations and extraordinary designs. This lecture is a preview for Sam Bowker and Seif El Rashidi's new book The Art of the Egyptian Tentmakers (American University in Cairo Press, 2026).

Thursday 15 January, 2pm

Storytelling: Myths of the Green Beetle

All ages over 8 years

Join Dr Sam Bowker for an engaging and intimate spoken word performance, in which we will hear ancient and invented tales that have inspired the shadow plays of Green Beetle.

About Our Speakers

Dr Sam Bowker is an Art Historian at Charles Sturt University and Melinda Bowker is an award-winning classically-trained singer. They perform together as Green Beetle, combining the Australian Christmas beetle and the Egyptian scarab to perform collaborative shadow puppet concerts. They are returning to the museum where they performed Goha and The Flea in the Sham el-Naseem festival in 2025, creating five new shadow puppet workshops.