The Shadow Play is a Thai theatrical entertainment in which puppets cast a shadow to tell a story. In this art form, known as Nang Talung, paper-thin pieces of water buffalo or cowhide leather are carved using razor-sharp hand-made knives and delicately shaped hole punches to create puppets of beautiful figures and historic scenes.

The shadow play has become less popular with the arrival of the movies. The Nung Talung figures are still hand crafted and used for shadow shows, but at this time the figures are more often used for decorations.