Shadow theater is a type of puppetry involving the use of flat shadow puppets manipulated behind a blank translucent screen or sheet onto which light shines so that the shadows of the puppets are cast on it. The audience views the shadows of the puppets as they act out the story. There is difference in scholarly opinion as to its origins, but either Egypt or eastern Asia is a likely place.

Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus

http://vocab.getty.edu/page/aat/300264856