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

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

You might expect “Re-Member Me,” by Dickie Beau, to be the genre bender: It’s self-consciously eclectic, combining elements of drag, lip-sync, shadow play and tribute.

From New York Times • Jan. 9, 2018

Feathers of Fire: A Persian Epic Large-scale shadow play inspired by a 10th-century tale about a pair of star-crossed lovers.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 15, 2017

I had no idea of the time, the miles I’d traveled since leaving Julia Bishop’s window and the shadow play.

From "100 Sideways Miles" by Andrew Smith