New views for new eyes

Members of the media who attended the press conference for the 13th Bangkok Theatre Festival at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre last Tuesday were pleasantly surprised by the new and livelier festival logo, and that’s not the only surprise the upcoming event has in store.

“Members of the Bangkok Theatre Network have been discussing for a long time how to attract a more diverse and larger audience and the result is this new concept ‘New View, New Eyes’,” says festival director Damkerng Thitapiyasak, who is artistic director of New Theatre Society and Thailand’s most prolific stage director.

And as for the much younger look of the festival, he says, “The interest of many older audience members has changed and theatre is no longer to their taste. We therefore feel that we should focus on a younger audience,” Damkerng says, adding that he and BTN founder and secretary Pradit “Tua” Prasartthong, are working with “young blood” actors and directors. “They are sharing many fresh and exciting ideas,” he says. “And let us not forget that it is they who will run the festival in the future.” 

This year, for the first time since its inception, the Bangkok Theatre Festival will not present any performances at Santi Chaiprakan park nor in the Bang Lamphu community, where the festival started.

“I have been asking BTN members whether it’s possible to move the hub from Santi Chaiprakan park and Bang Lamphu. Two years ago, we were obliged to cancel performances there because of the Supreme Patriarch’s funeral. In fact, in recent years the new community committee has not supported the festival in the same way as their predecessors. For example, far fewer cafes and restaurants are interested in participating as performance venues.

“Slowly but firmly, we’ve been moving the festival hub to Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, and artists and audiences agree that it’s more convenient in terms of travel as it’s right in the city centre. Many people also love the fact that they can have dinner or shop both before and after the performances at the nearby shopping centres. Besides, the team at BACC has been giving us their full support. Indeed, the13th BTF is also part of their fourth Performative Art Festival. And like in the previous years, there are many other BTF performances at other theatre studios across the city.”

In the main venue, the fourth floor studio of BACC, works include Damkerng’s “Pao: A Glass Menagerie on a Hot Tin Roof Named Desire”, a title that more than hints at the plays from which it has been adapted. Others are Theatre 8X8’s “This Empty World”, Nikorn Saetang’s research on masks; Anatta Theatre’s “Dog Face”, Pradit’s lakhon chatri adaptation of “Kaew Na Ma”; “2 Gether” by Sun Dance Theatre and Wannasak “Kuck” Sirilar; SaoSoong Theatre’s “Miscast”; and Khantha Arts ’n Theatre Company’s “Psalm” and “Untitled”. 

“There are a number of new theatre troupes in the festival’s line-up,” Damkerng enthuses. “These comprise recent university graduates who are continuing to be active on stage beyond their graduation projects.

“I started to notice this in last year’s festival but this year the number is surprising. This is a good sign for the future of Thai theatre and I hope they continue to work in theatre.”

This year, the festival will officially open its clubhouse, says Damkerng, giving performers, crew and the audience a place to let their hair down.

“Now that most BTF performances will be at BACC, I think we, as well as the audience, need a place to not only hang out but also share what we’ve watched,” he says. “I’ve asked Kuck to help run the club, which is on the sixth floor of the BACC. It will also be the venue for workshops and discussions.”

Curated by another veteran actor Saifah Tanthana, discussion topics include “From EdFringe to BTF: What Thai artists have learned”. Tua will explain how, in creating Bangkok Theatre Festival, he was inspired by his experience performing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival before the turn of the century; while Babymime will share their first experience of this year’s EdFringe. 

Theatre students and scholars are looking forward to hearing three highly respected professors – Pornrat Damrhung, Chetana Nagavajara and Surapone Virulrak – speak on “Deconstruction in Thai Theatre: Creating or eradicating?”.

“There are also more international works. Many foreign artists have approached us and others have been recommended and supported by foreign cultural institutions. Local English-speaking troupes are also here,” Damkerng says.

The British Council is taking part in BTF for the first time by bringing in “Steam”, by the globetrotting Prodigal Theatre: The Urban Playground Team. A parkour street acrobatics and physical theatre, the British troupe will take over the space in front of BACC. More support comes from the Korean Cultural Centre, with a collaboration between Korea’s Theatre Monggol and Thailand’s B-Floor Theatre at Thonglor Art Space. Also at the venue is Japan’s Mukuni Yanaihara, the 56th Kishida Kunio Drama Award-winning playwright, who will stage her play, in Thai and Japanese, “Strategic Loneliness” with support from the Japan Foundation. Another Japanese company the Shelf will also perform at Creative Industries at M Theatre. 

Expat companies continue to be active. Peel the Limelight’s “The True History of the Tragic Life and Triumphant Death of Julia Pastrana, the Ugliest Woman in the World” is at Spark School of Dramatic Arts on Sukhumvit Soi 23, and Culture Collective Studio’s “The Lisbon Traviata” is at their venue at Chatrium Riverside.

 ON WITH 

THE SHOW

 n The Bangkok Theatre Festival runs from November 3 to 15 at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre and other venues.

n Some shows are free. For tickets and other details, check www.BangkokTheatre|Festival.com. For assistance in English, call (086) 787 7155