Where new stars are born

ONE OF THE most keenly anticipated events on the Bangkok arts calendar, the Royal Khon Performance has proved so popular with audiences that tickets for the month-long run every November sell out almost as soon as they go on sale.
For thousands of student performers around the country, the Royal Khon production is the ultimate goal, and they practise constantly in the hope they will get through the auditions and win the coveted scholarships.
Organised since 2007 at Her Majesty Queen Sirikit’s royal command, the annual Thai classical dance performance aims to preserve the country’s traditional and highly refined art. As ever, the Support Foundation under Her Majesty’s royal patronage is organising this year’s show, “The Battle of Indrajit Prommas”, which gets underway on November 6 at the Thailand Cultural Centre.
The auditions for young generation performers, which were held last weekend at the Crown Property Bureau, were impressive both for their energy and the number of hopefuls taking part – 845 students from dramatic art schools across Thailand, the youngest just 15 years old.
They were competing for the performance’s five key roles: 79 of them for phra khon (male performer), 213 for phra lakorn (female performer), 263 for nang, 143 for the demons and 147 participants for the monkeys.
Only five participants for each role are lucky enough to land the scholarships and only those who get into the final round will perform on stage, though this year as many as 206 students will have a chance of participating.
Thanpuying Charungjit Teekara, assistant secretary general of the Support Foundation and chairwoman of the production committee was delighted at the turn out.
“It’s very touching and impressive to see more and more young performers taking part in the audition every year. In the first years, we had less than 100 participants but the number has increased every year and this year’s audition has clearly demonstrated the gifts and talents of the participants.
“We organise the audition and grant scholarships on a yearly basis so that young generation performers will take part in inheriting and promoting this high-art performance. One student can receive the scholarship just twice although they can audition and perform, if selected, as many times as they like,” she told XP.
The audition required all participants to showcase their skills in dancing, moving and understanding the roles. They also had to answer questions on the dramatic art in front of the honorary judges, who included Thanpuying Charungjit, ML Piyapas Bhirombhakdi, vice chairman of the production committee, National Artists Prasit Pinkaew and Jatuporn Rattanawaraha, and Pramet Boonyachai, who directs the show.
“For the phra khon role, the participants are evaluated based on their understanding of the role, their skills and battle moves while for phra lakorn, the participants are judged on their understanding of roles through pleng napat (the rhythmic music used in the traditional masked play),” says khon master Pramet.
“For the demons and monkeys, the main focus is on the moves of the characters and the use of weapons as well as battle moves. The judges also look at the personalities of the students to see of these match the roles for which they are auditioning. This year we’ve been overwhelmed by talented performers who are regarded as ‘young gems’ from across the country. This is their opportunity to learn from senior artists and khon masters in order to improve and become leading forces in promoting Thai cultural art.
“Traditionally, students start to learn about khon when they are seven or eight years old, bending the body, the fingers and the wrists. They don’t however learn the masked play until they start high school,” he says.
Phimsiri Wongchuchaisatid, 20, from Banditpattanasilp Institute, has auditioned four times and been selected to appear on stage for three of them.
“I’m very proud,” she says. “At the beginning when I was a child, I just wanted to dress beautifully. After hours of practising the classical dance, I used to cry. It’s so hard. You have to hold some postures to a count of 100. Bit I have grown increasingly fond of khon and would like to keep the culture alive.”
The teachers of the traditional dramatic art should be proud of their students. This year’s young performers were not only skilled but each demonstrated the value they give to the highly refined art and their desire to play a role in conserving the heritage. Many see themselves as future teachers of this classical Thai dance.
Phurada Theerawit, 19, from Ang-Thong College of Dramatic Arts, says the experience she gained from being part of the Royal Khon performance has been especially valuable in terms of the skills she has learned.
“Performing on stage is very emotional and I was overwhelmed by the loud applause. It really encourages us to follow this career path.”
Thanyathorn Dhusrananda, 17, a student at the College of Dramatic Arts in Bangkok, agrees. Her goal is become a Thai classical dance teacher and help the next generations pass down the cultural heritage.
Paphon Ruttanasippkon, 17, also from Ang-Thong College of Dramatic Arts, would love to play Tosakhan, the demon hero. His father, he says, teaches Thai classical dance, and he can see himself following suit.
“All of us are grateful to Her Majesty the Queen and Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn for giving us the opportunity to present and preserve our much-loved art,” says actress Pissamai Wilaisak, a National Artist in Performing Arts.
This year’s episode from the Ramakien, “The Battle of Indrajit Prommas”, is a continuation of the Indrajit Nakhabas battle staged in 2014. Director Pramet promises that the performance will be sufficiently contemporary to suit the tastes and lifestyle of present-day audiences, not least because he has chosen to combine content composed by Kings Rama I, II and VI.
For her part, ML Piyapas urges audiences to book tickets for the early part of the run rather than leave it until the last minute.
“We tend to get requests for more rounds because the last week of performances are fully booked. Some audience members even ask if they can sit on the stairs! The performance runs for a full month and there are plenty of seats available. We cannot put on more shows as the theatre is booked well in advance for other events.
“Don’t miss the year’s Royal Khon Performance. We promise it will be spectacular and enjoyable,” she says.
 CLASSIC MOVES
- The Royal Khon Performance of “The Battle of Indrajit: Prommas” will be performed daily except Monday from November 6 to December 6 at the Thailand Cultural Centre.
- Tickets go on sale on August 1 at ThaiTicketMajor and cost Bt420 to Bt1,520.
- For more information, visit www.KhonPerformance.com.