Siem Reap Launches Free Weekly Kun Lbokator and Shadow Theatre Performances

The Cambodia Tourism Board (CTB) has introduced a series of free weekly performances featuring Kun Lbokator and Lkhon Sbek Thom at two well-known sites in Siem Reap. The programme offers travellers a chance to engage with Cambodia's living traditions in ways that go beyond the usual temple sightseeing.

The opening events took place on September 18 and 19, with a Kun Lbokator display at the Terrace of the Elephants inside Angkor Archaeological Park, followed by a Lkhon Sbek Thom, or classical Khmer shadow puppet theatre, staged beside the Siem Reap River.

According to the CTB, the effort places two art forms honoured by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity into open public settings, letting audiences experience them in surroundings tied closely to the country's past and its modern tourism appeal.

Schedule and Access

Kun Lbokator will take place every Friday from 4.30pm to 5.30pm at the Terrace of the Elephants, and Lkhon Sbek Thom will be performed by the Siem Reap River every Saturday from 7pm to 8.30pm. Entry to both shows is free of charge.

"Come experience Cambodia's living heritage. Bring your friends and family and capture the moments in photos and videos," the CTB said in its announcement.

The regular performances aim to enrich the visitor experience in Siem Reap, drawing a line between the temples of Angkor and the customs that generations of Cambodians have kept alive.

Kun Lbokator: An Ancient Martial Art

The Terrace of the Elephants offers an especially fitting backdrop for Kun Lbokator. The Friday demonstrations give visitors the opportunity to watch this age-old martial art performed live.

The discipline blends combat methods, physical movement and forms inspired by animals, with traces of Khmer martial tradition carved into the walls of many of the Kingdom's ancient temples. Kun Lbokator was added to UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2022.

UNESCO notes that its training reaches beyond physical skill and fighting technique to encompass mental focus, respect for nature and proper behaviour in society. Held within the Angkor complex, the performances allow martial artists to breathe life into the movements depicted in Cambodia's ancient carvings, giving onlookers a tangible link between archaeological heritage and a practice still very much alive today.

Lkhon Sbek Thom: Shadow and Light

Saturday evenings bring a very different mood, as the Lkhon Sbek Thom performance turns the riverbank into an open-air stage lit by the interplay of light and shadow. This traditional theatre relies on large, rigid puppets crafted from finely carved leather.

During each show, puppeteers hold the figures before a fire or a lit screen, using precisely timed gestures and dance to animate the characters and scenes. A Pinpeat orchestra and spoken narration traditionally accompany the performance, with tales often taken from the Reamker, Cambodia's take on the Ramayana epic.

UNESCO named Sbek Thom a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2005 and later placed it on the Representative List in 2008. The art form is said to predate the Angkorian era and was once regarded as sacred.

In earlier times, performances were reserved for special moments such as Khmer New Year, royal ceremonies and tributes to important figures. Although it eventually grew into a wider theatrical tradition, it has held on to its ceremonial and spiritual roots.

A New Cultural Dimension

By staging the two events on Fridays and Saturdays, the Cultural Pop-up Show initiative gives locals and weekend travellers steady chances to enjoy Cambodian performing arts outside of enclosed theatres.

The programme also expands what Siem Reap has to offer, pairing daytime trips to the Angkor temples with evening cultural experiences in the city, while giving Cambodian performers a public stage to practise and share their heritage.