Navigating the Storm: A Study of Impacts Covid-19 on Wayang Kulit Kelantan

Abstract

The Covid-19pandemic hit the entire world at the onset of 2020, paralysingall community activities. The local government has restrictedall social activities, including public gatherings, which has indirectly impacted local wayang kulit practitioners. This study examinedthe impactsof the Covid-19pandemic on practitioners of wayang kulit in Kelantanand how they reactedand respondedduring the Covid-19. Thisstudy employs a qualitative approach with a focus on a case study. Tenrespondents were interviewed, and non-participant observation was used to obtain data. All data wereanalysedthematically and triangulated with previous studies. Hence this study found two significantimpacts of Covid-19towards Wayang Kulit Kelantan,including local practitioners who are forced to postpone and cancel artistic activitiesanda lack of income generation among the practitioners. However, Wayang Kulit Kelantan survivedby adapting onlineversion of wayang kulit performancesandthe need tocomplywith government SOPs. In conclusion, this study is essentialfor Wayang Kulit practitioners and stakeholders in sustaining Wayang Kulit during the pandemic and in the future.