shadow play

American  

noun

1. a show in which shadows of puppets, flat figures, or live actors are projected onto a lighted screen.

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shadow play British  

noun

1. a theatrical entertainment using shadows thrown by puppets or actors onto a lighted screen

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Etymology

Origin of shadow play

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

"You could say that these elections are kind of a shadow play," Kristof Titeca, an expert on Uganda at Antwerp university, told AFP.

From Barron's • Jan. 12, 2026

The earlier film showcases Murnau’s already fluid camerawork, particularly his command of shadow play and low angles that made the 6-foot-3 Schreck seem like a force of otherworldly evil.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 31, 2024

But, at their best, they are thrillingly fabular, giving us the sense that we are witnessing a shadow play, our attention absorbed while elsewhere something fundamental takes place.

From The Guardian • Jul. 13, 2019

Other nifty visuals include shadow play as the witch foretells her curse that the king and queen’s daughter, Briar Rose, will prick her finger on a spindle.

From Washington Post • Dec. 12, 2016

A young man burst out from the side of a stage and told the crowd, “And now the Moon Lady will come and tell her sad tale to you, in a shadow play, classically sung.”

From "The Joy Luck Club" by Amy Tan