Matthew Cohen, Professor of International Theatre in the Department of Drama, Theatre and Dance, is currently touring Java with gamelan musicians from Cirebon (West Java, Indonesia) and the UK (including RHUL alumn Katie Bruce). At the tour’s opening on 27 July he was granted a royal name (Ki Dalang Bawana = Honorable Puppeteer of the World) from Sultan Sepuh XIV of Keraton Kasepuhan, PRA Arief Natadiningrat, before performing at the royal palace. The award reads: "For very high dedication in advancing and preserving Cirebon-style shadow puppet theatre." The tour is sponsored by the Kementerian Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan (Ministry of Education and Culture) with the cooperation of local governments and the Pepadi puppeteer union of Cirebon and goes on until 8 August.
