Sema Thai bags prizes at World Puppet Carnival
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Sema Thai troupe's "Chao Ngor" marionette play has won the "Best Artistic Creation" and "Best Young Puppeteer" awards at the Wayang World Puppet Carnival in Jakarta.
The performance, a modern take on the cherished Thai folktale “Sang Thong”, reportedly stole the judges’ hearts on Sunday with its delicate and graceful movements and techniques that mesmerised the worldwide audience.
Khemchat Thepchai, director of the Culture Ministry’s Office of Contemporary Art and Culture, said yesterday the office sponsored the troupe as Thai representatives to the event. The puppet carnival featured acts by 60 troupes from 46 countries from September 1-8.
The “Best Artistic Creation” award went to Nimith Pipithkul, the scriptwriter and director of “Chao Ngor”, while the “Best Young Puppeteer” award was presented to Phurinat Khaboonram, 6, the world’s youngest puppeteer, who acted out role of the young “Chao Ngor” character, he said.
The office plans to propose Thailand to host the world puppet carnival in two years, he said, and to promote all contemporary artists from Thailand who compete on the world stage.
The Sema Thai troupe has wowed the judges at world puppet festivals before. “Chao Ngor” bagged the “Most Poetic Creation of Puppet Art” award in Prague in 2008 and the troupe’s “Seuk Phrommasat” show scooped the “Best Traditional Original Performance of Puppet Art” award in Prague in 2009.
