Nora, the NCPO and creative freedom

The short films promoting the National Council for Peace and Order’s (NCPO) 12 values are now in cinemas. Last month, a playwriting competition on these 12 values was also organised for high-school and university students as well as professional theatre artists. Pichet Klunchun didn’t submit his new work “No.5 of 12” to that contest. He wouldn’t win it if he did.

Back from New York City where he was honoured with the John D Rockefeller Award last month, he has spent his time in Southern Thailand working with Nora master Thammanit Nikomrat and his Nora Thammanit Sangonsin Dance Company.

Pichet explains, “A few months ago, I worked with master Thammanit and his company, choreographing a 20-minute piece for them to perform at Akademi Seni Warisan Kebangsaan (ASWARA) in Malaysia. It’s part of a research project by Professor Pornrat Damrhung, supported by Ministry of Culture’s Office of Contemporary Art and Culture. Our collaboration ‘No 5 of 12’, though, is not an extension of that.

“Every December, our company organises a programme of traditional performances, and the initial plan was to invite his company to perform at Chang Theatre. But after talking with him about the NCPO’s 12 values, especially the fifth one on the nurturing of our arts and culture, we agreed that we needed to voice our comments –not only on how unclear it is but also how it restricts artists’ creative freedom.”

Speaking of creativity, Pichet, thanks in major part to his experience overseas where contemporary performing arts are no longer restricted to stage and theatre, but have more interaction and interrelation with other art disciplines, reveals that his company is no longer restricted to expressions through dance movements. That new-found freedom is evident in this work.

“It’s much more conceptual than physical. ‘No 5 of 12’ will take place in many parts of our Chang Theatre. We’ll probably have about 80 to 100 audience members each evening, and they can always move freely from one part to another. It comprises three art installations whose contents are very strong and two performances, one of which is highly conceptual. It’s a big leap forward for our company and for contemporary dance in this country.”

This description brings to mind the term “experiential performance”. 

Commenting on the traditional form of Nora, Pichet says, “I find that this unique performing art tradition has many similarities to khon – its angular body postures are like that of the demon characters’, for example. In working with Nora Thammanit Sangonsin Dance Company, we have learned a lot from him and his dancers. We’ve found something that’s very close to us and yet different. I like it much better too.” 

Unlike the previous December offerings at Chang Theatre, “this work ‘No 5 of 12’, with more than 20 performers including master Thammanit and Pichet himself, is very contemporary.

 “It will also be very controversial too,” Pichet adds. “I’m even afraid our theatre may be shut down after the premiere of this work.”

I’ve already booked my ticket for Thursday, just to be sure I have a work to review for next Monday.