Unlocking the value of a smile

THANAPOL “TAM” VIRULHAKUL’S 2012 work “Post Show Talk with Pina Bausch and Dancers” was shortlisted by the Thailand Centre of International Association of Theatre Critics (IATC) for the Best Movement-based Performance award. Today, he’s back on the stage with “Transaction”, a performance that’s more conceptual than physical and which doesn’t allow the audience merely to sit back and relax.
“I was inspired by the ‘Occupy Wall Street’ movement. Although I wasn’t really all that interested in it at first, my ears pricked up when I noticed that it had spread all over the world and I began to study it in details. Their slogan ‘We are the 99 per cent’ made a strong impression and I wondered who made up the remaining one per cent,” says Tam.
“I also wondered about this ratio in Thailand and how it’s functions here. And I questioned whether this is because of capitalism or whether there’s something else.”
These reflections led Tam to look more deeply into behavioural economics and he quickly come to realise that these are much more than supply and demand; that these social and cognitive factors an integral part of our daily life.
“Supposing someone smiles at you but you don’t feel like smiling back. You don’t want to engage in this interaction. You may be valuing his smile in currency. His smile may be worth Bt5, but yours is at least Bt100, and so you don’t smile back and you feel like you’re cheating.
“I’ve created a small economic system in this performance. I’m not focusing on the physical movements of the performers, but instead on the composition and the structure of the work. It’s like I’m the composer of this piece, which will then be interpreted by the performers as well as the audience,” he explains.
“The audience plays a major part in the performance. ‘Transaction’ is not possible without them – the interactive level is very high. During our rehearsals, we’ve had help from many friends in trying this out.
“In terms of physical movements, I’m making use of improvisation techniques. But I always make sure that improvisations lead to certain outcomes, and that they’re not improvisations for the sake of improvisations.”
The cast includes Bo Kittiphon, Jaa Phantachat, Nattawut Jansom, Peerapol Kijreunpiromsuk, Varanyoo Intrakumhang, Watcharayu Suradej, Vidura Amranand and Itdhi Phanmanee. From this list, dance and theatre fans will immediately pick up that some are veteran dancers and others are theatre actors. “I’ve also cast some who’ve never performed,” Tam adds with a grin.
“I chose different kinds of people to join this project. My aim is to depict a small society and to see what happens when these different people co-exist in it.”
Tam is of the opinion that contemporary dance in Thailand suffers from the same problem as in many other countries, for example, low audience numbers and less support than that given to theatre and other dance genres.
“The good thing is that contemporary dance is not a fixed style, and so there’s much artistic freedom in it. In my works, I’m trying to extend the possibilities of what most audiences usually regard as dance.”
 SUPPLY
AND DEMAND
- “Transaction” runs from tonight until Sunday and next Thursday to August 26at Democrazy Theatre Studio in Soi Saphan Khu (MRT Lumpini). Shows are at 8pm.
- Tickets cost Bt399 to Bt599. Tonight’s show is sold out. Call (081) 498 7660 or visit “Transaction2013” on Facebook.