Majesty in the movements

THE MUCH-LOVED annual |performance of khon (traditional masked dance), returns to the stage of the Thailand Cultural Centre on November 7 for a month-long run and already the tickets, which went on sale well in advance, are selling fast. Performed mainly for royal guests over the years, Her Majesty the Queen revived the dying public performances of khon in 2007 to ensure that this treasured national heritage lived on along with its attendant crafts of costume-making and makeup. This year’s episode is “The Battle of Indrajit: Prommas”, which was performed at the same venue in 2007 and 2009. 

“Her Majesty issued a royal command that this highly refined Thai cultural art be performed every year. The young generation was also to be part of preserving this traditional Thai performance in authentic style,” explained Thanpuying Charungjit Teekara, assistant to the secretary general of the Support Foundation under the royal patronage of HM the Queen and the chairperson of the performance.

“This time around, it will bring together tradition and different script. It will follow the royal khon story by King Rama II but be mixed with the concert script written by Prince Narisara Nuvadtivongs and the Chui Chai script written by King Rama VI.

“It will feature several scenes in the royal khon pattern with the addition of ‘The Battle of Mangkornkant’. This sees the recreation of the Romekal city pavilion in Thai style influenced by Chinese culture similar to the art in the King Rama III era as well as Chui Chai scene from the work of King Rama VI, which is not quite so well known but is extremely beautiful. The dancing techniques have been kept within the Fine Arts Department and Banditpattanasilp Institute,” Ajarn Pramet Boonyachai added.

This year’s performance will consist of six acts: “Delaying the Battle (The Palace of Romekal City)”, “Phra Ram Pavilion”, “The Battlefield”, “War News (Lonka Palace)”, “Ruined Ceremony” and “Prommas”.

The performance, which features state-of-the-art effects, sees several young people rotate in the key roles of Phra Khon, Phra Lakorn, Nang, Demons, and Monkeys.

The scene where Indrajit transforms into Phra Indra was performed at the recent press conference held at the Crown Property Bureau’s office in front of a group of producers and guests that included national artist and vocal director Thadsanee Khoontong, Banditpattanasilp’s president Dr Sirichaicharn Fachamroon, Nattapong Sowat, Dr Dussadee Meepon, Sudsakorn Chaisem, Dr Surat Jongda, Peeramon Chomdhavat, Nuntiya Swangvudthitham, and Khunying Supatra Charucharone.

 

BUY NOW

- “Royal Khon Performance: Episode of Prommas” runs from November 7 to December 6 at the Thailand Cultural Centre.

- Tickets cost from Bt600 to Bt1,500 (students Bt100) at all branches of Thai Ticket Major. Call (02) 262 3456 or visit www.ThaiTicketMajor.com.

- For more information, visit www.KhonPerformance.com.