Don Pollock, a professor of communications at the University of La Verne, was invited to the first ever Myanmar International Puppet Festival in March.

Pollock, a Claremont resident, videotaped puppeteers from nine different companies and shot a documentary, interviewing puppeteers, filming workshops and the interactions of the puppeteers.

Myanmar has a rich puppet tradition dating back to the 1400s. Under the military dictatorship, which ruled Myanmar from 1962 until 2015, puppeteering was banned for 20 years because performers used puppeteering to critique the regime.

With democratic elections held in Myanmar in 2015, puppeteering has made something of a comeback. Pollock was invited because he worked with the U.S. puppeteer, Pomona based Penelope Torribio.

“I have known and worked with Penelope for over 30 years,” said Pollock. “Penelope traveled to Myanmar last year and spent a month looking up all of the old puppeteers there. When she returned she wanted to film a new version of the Ramayana, a centuries old Indian puppet story. We had filmed a version of the Ramayana over 15 years ago in someone’s backyard in West Covina. That show won some awards.”

The festival lasted from March 23-27 and featured workshops, rehearsals and social interactions between the puppeteers.

The festival culminated in a seven-hour long performance at Myanmar’s national theatre in Yangon. The show was free and open to the public. There was a solid turnout from locals and tourists.

One of the highlights for Pollock, who is Jewish, was visiting the 1896 synagogue in Yangon.

“Many Jews from Iraq and Iran came to Myanmar as traders starting in the 1840s. At its height there were 4,000 Jews in Myanmar.

“When the Japanese arrived in 1942 many of the Jews left. Today, there are only a handful left, including Sammy Samuels, who graciously gave us a tour of the synagogue.”