Can Star Wars pull Malaysian art form out of the shadows?

'Using The Force'

"We see the audience happy and their perceptions about wayang kulit are changing, that it has legs," says Chuo, who adds that team has invested more than $10,000 of their own money.

Mohammad Sani Sukir, who brought his family to watch the show, raved afterward.

"By combining two things, one old and one new, into one package, this increases the attraction of wayang kulit," he says.

But it originally took some persuading to convince Muhammad Dain, who runs a wayang kulit art gallery in his hometown in rural northern Malaysian state of Kelantan.

Chuo felt a puppet master was needed to ensure the art form's integrity and aesthetics.

"After months of talking, convincing and using a bit of The Force, he agreed to join and do this," Chuo says with a laugh.

"I had to pass him my Star Wars DVD and let him know who Han Solo was."

Most of the puppets were made from tanned buffalo hide by skilled Kelantan craftsmen.

Government efforts to promote appreciation of wayang kulit have gained little traction, but private groups are forging ahead, says Eddin Khoo, founder of a cultural non-profit that stages performances of the art.

He calls the Star Wars project "helpful" for wayang kulit.

Chuo has expanded the idea by designing Superman, Batman and other superhero shadow puppets for exhibitions, and may incorporate them in future shows.

"It's a little thing that I can do for Malaysian culture," he says.