Sovanna Phum Arts Association

What to See at Sovanna Phum

Sbek Thom — Khmer Shadow Theatre

UNESCO inscribed Sbek Thom on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2005. Non-articulated leather puppets up to two metres tall, cut from buffalo or cow hide, are held against a backlit screen to tell scenes from the Reamker — a tradition believed to have originated in Siem Reap and performed outdoors at night since the Angkorian era.

Masked Dance and Folk Performance

Beyond shadow theatre, the Friday/Saturday programme rotates through classical Apsara-style dance, masked dance drama, and folk dances drawn from rural Cambodian tradition, accompanied by a live traditional ensemble.

The Open-Air Theatre

Sovanna Phum’s stage was renovated in 2002 into an open-air venue that’s as much a discovery space for young Cambodians reconnecting with their own performing arts as it is a show for visiting travellers.

How to Get to Sovanna Phum

The theatre is at Street 360, corner of Street 105, in Phnom Penh’s Chamkarmon district.

• Tuk-tuk: A short ride from central Phnom Penh; any driver can find it by name
• On foot: Walkable from guesthouses in the Boeung Keng Kang area

Practical Tips

• Shows run only Friday and Saturday — check the schedule before planning a visit
• Reserve ahead by phone in high season; seating is limited
• A small gift shop sells leather shadow puppets and other handmade pieces
• Private lessons in dance, drumming, circus skills, or leather puppet-making are available on request

Nearby Attractions

• Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21) — a short ride away in central Phnom Penh
• Cambodian Living Arts “Plae Pakaa” show — the National Museum’s nightly Apsara dance performance, on the other side of the city centre