This study aimed to describe the types of directive speech acts and their types in the shadow puppet performance entitled Rama Gandrung by Purbo Asmoro (RGPA) and the puppeteer's strategy in performing speech acts in the performance. This research was a single case study in the form of a Surakarta-style shadow puppet show with puppeteer Purbo Asmoro. The research focused on the shadow puppet performance Rama Gandrung play, specifically the pathet sanga and pathet manyura scenes, with the research target on pronunciation, including gynecology (dialogue). The research results showed that the number of speech sub-acts differed based on the context of speech and linguistic markers. The directive speech act consisted of 6 sub-acts; the RGPA play with a high frequency of directive speech acts was a driving directive speech act, while a low directive speech act frequency was an asking permission directive speech act. The strategy for uncovering the essence of the story was contained in directive speech acts in ginem (character dialogue) creations with an implicit strategy, with word choices, bold words, and sentences, accompanied by purwakanthi and effective language style. Creativity in the dialogue of characters with strategic conflicts or dramatic figures, and sufficient rhetorical assistance, could amaze the audience/listeners. Purbo Asmoro's strategy was to maintain the traditional shadow puppet format mixed with a short shadow puppet performance style, reflection on directive speech acts, and creativity in processing conversations (janturan, ginem, pocapan) using simple, solid, and direct speech. The combination of Kawi, archaic, and folk languages was characteristic of the language and literature of his puppetry. Another thing about the work on the storyline included the prologue and presentation of flashbacks of the play, which were performed in directed, actual, and contextual speech acts. Keywords: Directive speech acts, Shadow puppet performances, Surakarta-style, Purbo Asmoro DOI: 10.7176/JLLL/95-06 Publication date: January 31 st 2023