The demons storming the gate in Pichet Klunchun Dance Company's “The Battle of Sang Athit” are wearing red.

In the wake of the highly political dance solo "Ganesha" last month at his Chang Theatre in Thonburi, Pichet Klunchun doesn’t need a petition of support, and now he’s leading his troupe across the river to Alliance Francaise for "The Battle of Sang Athit".

He’s renewing his attack with "Sang Athit", based on an episode of the Ramakien penned by King Rama I, though this is no classical performance.

"Sang Athit [whose mask and costume are bright red like the sun] was a ferocious demon whose brother Maiyarap was killed by Phra Ram, so he willingly joined Totsakan’s army while other demons had to be coerced," Pichet explains.

"My master, the late Khru Chaiyot Kummanee, was renowned for portraying this character, so with this production I’m paying tribute to him as well."

Pichet sees a metaphor in the classical story of “Ramakien” in which a series of demons attacking the good Phra Ram [pictured here].

"I watched what’s been happening in Thailand in the past few years and could draw many parallels," he says, "and when I was honeymooning in Austria during Songkran and saw the red-shirt army on TV, all of a sudden I could make another connection."

Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is "similar to Totsakan", Pichet says, and pop singer Arisaman Pongruangrong, who led the crimson charge in Pattaya, reminded him of Sang Athit.

He watched Arisaman’s music video for his hit love ballad "Yom Yok Thong" ("Admitting Defeat").

"At the end he was holding a red flag with the words kor thod [‘I’m sorry’] written on it, so I’m using this video in the performance too."

“Later on in the development process, I came across a scene [in King Rama I’s script] depicting the moment when Totsakan’s army was at recess and the soldiers were drinking, yet it’s never been choreographed nor presented on the stage. And so I’ll use ‘Rap Maew’ in this scene.”

Ultimately, Pichet wants to point out that people have many opportunities to express their opinions, yet often "those opinions are not actually ours, but those of our leaders or elders".

"The Battle of Sang Athit" is at the Alliance Francaise on Friday and Saturday at 7:30pm. Tickets are Bt 500 (Bt 300 for students) via  08 1985 0281 or contact@pklifework.com. Get more details at www.PKLifeWork.com.