Having faith and more

Two months after staging "Flu Fool", B-Floor Theatre is back in action again, making them Thailand's most prolific professional theatre company of the moment. They're able to achieve this status simply because many of the company's members not only perform but also create their own works - and they also take turns handling the administrative side of things. Plus, their works are being staged in both small- and medium-sized venues, occasionally with cast and crew who also work for other groups.

Their most recent offering - "Double Bill" - opened last night at the Pridi Banomyong Institute. It comprises Dujdao Vadhanapakorn's "F_uck Thong" and Nana Dakin's "Damage Joy".

In "F_uck Thong", Dujdao conveys a strong and controversial message. She says, "Two questions have been bothering me since I was young. First: why do people need to have faith in a religion? Second: what exactly in the religion draws people to it? For me personally, my religion hasn't enabled me to feel good or to have awareness. Instead, I have faith in the power of dance to make us feel better."

As a certified dance movement psychotherapist, Dujdao notes that she always applies its techniques in her artistic works, especially in the creation and rehearsal process. In this piece, she works with Teerawat Mulvilai, Nophand Boonyai, Thong-Glur Tongtae (aka Glur Babymime) and guest performer Sarinrat Thomas.

"I also focus on how to most effectively convey the performance's messages to the audience, making sure that they're not just left hanging. I like blurring the line between the performers and the audience. Actually, I love drawing the latter into the performance."

Nana's previous work "Begin Again" was one of the best stage works of 2009, and this time she's been inspired by the German word "schadenfreude" ("satisfaction or pleasure felt at someone else's misfortune") and physical comedy for her new piece "Damage Joy".

It features performers Sumontha Suanphonrat, Sasapin Siriwanij, Vidura Amranand, and Nuttapol Kummata (aka Ta Babymime) with set and costume design by Paron Mead.

Nana says, "This work invites the audience into the world of dark fantasy to meet four characters who love breaking things and hurting one another for their pleasure."

She adds that she likes creating works that reflect problems in contemporary society and showing issues that she understands and some that she doesn't.

"I'm particularly interested to find out how far we can tolerate violence in this society. If we burst out laughing when people slip and fall, when will we stop?"

Later this year, B-Floor will restage "Flu Fool" as part of the FIAO project at Nakarin Theatre, and "Space-O-Dizzy" as part of the Bangkok Theatre Festival.

Also premiering last night was Pastel Theatre's "You and I", a romance-drama about a man and a woman who meet by chance one evening and start a relationship. They discover later that their meeting wasn't completely by chance. Veteran director Saifah Tanthana is at the helm.

Another ongoing show is "Dong Fang Boo Bai" by 8x8 Theatre's Apirak Chaipanha. This play-within-a-play is a restaging of a 2006 production and was inspired by Tsui Hark's famous martial arts film "Swordsman".

THAT'S NOT ALL

B-Floor's "Double Bill" runs until October 2 at the Pridi Banomyong Institute, between Thonglor Sois 1 and 3. It's on nightly, except Monday and Tuesday, at 7.30. Tickets are Bt450. Call (089) 167 4039, visit www.BFloorTheatre.com or search for "B-Floor Theatre" on Facebook.

Pastel Theatre's "You and I" is also on until October 2 at Rong Lakhon Prachachon, on the third floor of the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre. Showtimes are at 7.30 nightly except Monday and Tuesday plus matinees on Saturday and Sunday at 2. Tickets are Bt250. Call (080) 225 0732 or look for "Pastel Theatre" on Facebook .

n 8x8 Theatre's "Dong Fang Boo Bai" runs from tomorrow to Sunday at the Blue Box Studio on the second floor of M Theatre on New Petchaburi Road, between Thonglor and Ekamai. Shows are at 7.30pm plus matinees on Saturday and Sunday at 2. Tickets are Bt350 (Bt250 for students). Visit www.BananaBooking.com.

Pawit Mahasarinand

Special to The Nation