Myanmar Marionettes Organization (MMOrg)

Introduction

1. In the past, the Myanmar Marionettes Organization (MMO) was held in great esteem by

both the royalty and common people alike as the theater also served as an educational

medium.

2. Myanmar Marionettes Organization is formed or founded in 18th October, 2014 in

Yangon, Myanmar with the patrons and executive committee members from both Yangon and

Mandalay.

3. However, as the executive committee member of Mandalay formed the majority, it was

decided to open the office of the Executive committee of Myanmar Marionettes Organization

in Mandalay, the cultural city of the country.

Aim and Objectives

Aims,

(a) To create the art of puppetry to be beneficial to the people

(b) To rehabilitate, to preserve, to upgrade and to propagate the various arts and crafts of

the Myanmar Puppet Theater.

(c) To unite all the puppeteers and the people interested in puppetry and organize them to

work for the cause of puppetry.

(d) To give aids in terms of money and materials to the old and poor puppeteers.

(e) To introduce foreign types of puppet such as shadow, glove, rod and string for

educational purposes

(f) To attempt and to contact puppeteers and puppet organization of the world and also

this region of south East Asia.

(g) to assist local communities to gain knowledge and raise awareness on the importance of

preserving and promoting the tangible and intangible culture heritage, in particular in the field

of Myanmar traditional performing arts which can be lost by different means and causes.

Objectives,

Long Term project of the Myanmar Marionettes Organization

1. To crate the art of puppetry to be beneficial to the peoples

2. To introduce foreign types of puppet such as shadow, glove, rod and string for

educational purposes

3. To crate unity of all puppeteers and the people interested in puppetry in order for them

to work for the cause of this art.

4. To give financial and material assistance to the old ad poor puppeteer.

5. To attempt to contact puppeteer and Puppet Organizations of the world like UNIMA,

Asian Puppetry Association.

6. To receive, preserve, upgrade and propagate the declining art and craft of the Myanmar

Traditional Marionettes Theater, such as, making puppets, related subjects, embroidery,

dramatic practices, vocal art and art of Manipulation Orchestral music in support of Puppet

Performance.

7. To Attempt for the young people firstly to appreciate the live and puppet dramatic show

and the later to become lovers of he lives and puppet performances

8. By contacting the authorities concerned and organization concerned, to find way for the

puppet troupes to be able to perform at cultural, religious and political celebrations or events.

9. To hold meetings workshops seminars, lectures and festivals for the course of puppetry

10. To open a library with books on puppetry

11. To establish a puppet museum with puppets from the whole world

12. To open the well-equipped workshop

13. To publish books, Magazines, journals, periodicals on puppetry and puppet events.

14. To establish puppet theaters in Yangon and Mandalay.

15. To televise puppet programs to be transmitted over the radio stations and TV stations of

the state.

16. to provide services to restore religious heritage and theatrical infrastructure

17. To undertake research missions to identify the most pressing capacity and resource

needs.

The founding of the Myanmar Marionettes Organization (History and Background)

On the 18th October 2014, the Myanmar Marionette Organization (MMO) was founded with

following patrons and executive committee members.

It was decided firstly to form a group of older persons in order for the executive committee

members of the Myanmar Marionettes Organization to receive the guidance and suggestions

from them. The decision was made because many of the patrons possess higher educational

qualifications being teachers, writers, authors, playwrights and dramatists. Few of Patrons are

veteran orchestra musicians, puppet masters (Manipulator), vocalists, Puppet Maker and

embroiders of both Yangon and Mandalay.

The group of Patrons elected was as follow;

1. U Pan Aye (Puppet Master, Mandalay)

2. U Thein Naing (Writer of books on the live and Myanmar Marionettes Theater, Yangon)

3. Dr. U Chit San Win (Author who also wrote books on puppetry, Yangon)

4. U Ye Dway ( Puppeteer and Writer, Yangon )

5. U Aung Tin Win (Playwright and Actor, Yangon)

6. U Sein Tun Kyi ( Puppet Master, Yangon)

7. Daw Shwe Nan Yee (Princess Vocalist, Actress)

The Executive Committee Members of the Myanmar Marionette Organization are as follows:

(a) Daw Ma Ma Naing Chairperson

(Puppeteer, Teacher, Writer)

(b) U Sein Myint (Shwe Chi Htoe) Vice - Chairperson in Mandalay

(c) U Shwe Kyi (Puppeteer, Ramayana Performer) Vice – Chairperson in Yangon

(d) U Kyaw Myo Ko General Secretary

(MD at Myanmar Upper Land | culture & travel, Mandalay)

(e) U Khin Maung Htwe ( Htwe Oo Myanmar, Yangon) Associated Secretary

(f) U Thet Aung Win ( Mya Mandalar Hotel, Mandalay) Finance

(g) Daw Maw Maw (Yangon) Auditor

(h) Daw Tin Tin Oo(Yangon) Auditor

(i) U Ye Nyi Nyi Information

(j) U Than Nyunt ( Mandalay Marionette Theater) EC member

(k) U Thein Lwin ( Puppeteer, Mandalay) EC member

(l) U Ohn Maung ( Puppeteer & Maker, Mandalay ) EC member

(m) U Sein Hla Myaing ( Master Musician, Yangon)) EC member

(n) U Aung Than Htun ( Puppet Maker, Yangon) EC member

(o) Daw Wai Wai Lin ( Embroidery, Yangon) EC member

(p) U Dawn Yin ( Puppeteer, Yangon) EC member

(q) U Sein Aye Myint EC member