Dance and Theatre

Previews, Interviews, and Reviews (yes, and Photos) of Dance and Theatre in Thailand (well, and elsewhere) written by "The Nation" dance and theatre critics
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Wednesday , December 31 , 2008

STEPPING into JAPAN

Posted by dance_and_theatre , Reader : 1381 , 00:43:01 | Category : Dance 2008 Theatre 2008 Bangkok Festivals 2008

Bangkok theatregoers moved to the graceful rhythms of Kabuki this month, then met the modern madness of Butoh.The Japan Foundation Bangkok in co-operation with the National Discovery Museum Institute hosted the “Kabuki Demonstration and Nishiki-e Exhibition” at Museum Siam. And for a few hundred audiences who were quick enough to call the organizers and book their free tickets for the afternoon and e....

Bangkok theatregoers moved to the graceful rhythms of Kabuki this month, then met the modern madness of Butoh.The Japan Foundation Bangkok in co-operation with the National Discovery Museum Institute hosted the “Kabuki Demonstration and Nishiki-e Exhibition” at Museum Siam. And for a few hundred audiences who were quick enough to call the organizers and book their free tickets for the afternoon and e....

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Sunday , December 21 , 2008

THEATRE in a time of TROUBLE

Posted by dance_and_theatre , Reader : 1039 , 10:57:07 | Category : Dance 2008 Theatre 2008 Bangkok Festivals 2008

While thousands of audiences enjoyed a wide-variety of outdoors free-admission theatrical performances at Santi Chaiprakarn Park, officially the hub of Bangkok Theatre Festival 2008, the attendance at other venues, city-wide, was pretty disappointing. On the festival’s opening day (November 22), the number of audiences at Naked Masks Playhouse, a new small venue at Phyathai Plaza, was even less than ....

While thousands of audiences enjoyed a wide-variety of outdoors free-admission theatrical performances at Santi Chaiprakarn Park, officially the hub of Bangkok Theatre Festival 2008, the attendance at other venues, city-wide, was pretty disappointing. On the festival’s opening day (November 22), the number of audiences at Naked Masks Playhouse, a new small venue at Phyathai Plaza, was even less than ....

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Sunday , December 14 , 2008

let FREEDOM ring

Posted by dance_and_theatre , Reader : 904 , 01:36:50 | Category : Theatre 2008 Bangkok Festivals 2008

Makhampom ends a prolific year with a musical homage to the inspring writer/journalist/ political activist Sriburapha.More than a hundred years ago Siamese theatre artists adapted the Western-style opera to new forms of homegrown theatre, including lakorn rong. From the royal palace, where it was cultivated by Prince Narathipprapanpong, lakorn rong evolved into a popular entertainment at playhouses l....

Makhampom ends a prolific year with a musical homage to the inspring writer/journalist/ political activist Sriburapha.More than a hundred years ago Siamese theatre artists adapted the Western-style opera to new forms of homegrown theatre, including lakorn rong. From the royal palace, where it was cultivated by Prince Narathipprapanpong, lakorn rong evolved into a popular entertainment at playhouses l....

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Saturday , December 13 , 2008

Giving back to SANTA

Posted by dance_and_theatre , Reader : 857 , 11:12:08 | Category : Theatre 2008 Bangkok Festivals 2008

The sequel to "Christmas Story" puts a lovely spin on the season this weekend. Last December, Aa Theatre, led by Japan-born and Thailand-bred Shoko Tanikawa, presented their first production “Christmas Story”. The engaging drama was set at a park on Christmas Eve when a mysterious Japanese man named Santa Claus (Shoko) was waiting for a woman named Marilyn Monroe whom he met on the internet....

The sequel to "Christmas Story" puts a lovely spin on the season this weekend. Last December, Aa Theatre, led by Japan-born and Thailand-bred Shoko Tanikawa, presented their first production “Christmas Story”. The engaging drama was set at a park on Christmas Eve when a mysterious Japanese man named Santa Claus (Shoko) was waiting for a woman named Marilyn Monroe whom he met on the internet....

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Monday , December 8 , 2008

BUTOH: LIVE (plus photographed) in Bangkok

Posted by dance_and_theatre , Reader : 1210 , 09:31:34 | Category : Dance 2008 Theatre 2008 Bangkok Festivals 2008

Two arts centres in Bangkok play host to Butoh masters this month. Butoh, a contemporary theatrical performance art originated in post-Hiroshima Japan born out of despair and confusion and hence the nickname “dance of darkness”, has come a long way. Since its beginning in 1959, this amalgam of dance, theatre, and improvisation with influences from traditional Japanese dance theatre and German Express....

Two arts centres in Bangkok play host to Butoh masters this month. Butoh, a contemporary theatrical performance art originated in post-Hiroshima Japan born out of despair and confusion and hence the nickname “dance of darkness”, has come a long way. Since its beginning in 1959, this amalgam of dance, theatre, and improvisation with influences from traditional Japanese dance theatre and German Express....

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Friday , December 5 , 2008

SUNFLOWER: sowing seeds

Posted by dance_and_theatre , Reader : 933 , 11:25:25 | Category : Theatre 2008 Bangkok Festivals 2008

"Sunflower" ploughs plenty of laughs from its tales of modern love, but plants some deep thoughts on relationships too. When Nophand Boonyai premiered his first play, a comedy/ drama about modern relationship titled “Dokmai Nai Saengdad” (“Sunflower”) back in January, Weekend was among the first media to interview him. Then, many theatergoers were still wondering who he was and what kind of....

"Sunflower" ploughs plenty of laughs from its tales of modern love, but plants some deep thoughts on relationships too. When Nophand Boonyai premiered his first play, a comedy/ drama about modern relationship titled “Dokmai Nai Saengdad” (“Sunflower”) back in January, Weekend was among the first media to interview him. Then, many theatergoers were still wondering who he was and what kind of....

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Monday , December 1 , 2008

VENUS rises again

Posted by dance_and_theatre , Reader : 869 , 10:11:21 | Category : Dance 2008 Theatre 2008 Bangkok Festivals 2008

Five years on, the social issues explored in "Venus Party" remain unresolved. Sineenadh Keitprapai, actress, playwright, director and artistic director of Crescent Moon Theatre, is the latest recipient of Ministry of Culture’s Silpathorn Award in performing arts—and the first woman. It’s quite fitting then that Bangkok Theatre Festival 2008 will next week revive one of her most critically a....

Five years on, the social issues explored in "Venus Party" remain unresolved. Sineenadh Keitprapai, actress, playwright, director and artistic director of Crescent Moon Theatre, is the latest recipient of Ministry of Culture’s Silpathorn Award in performing arts—and the first woman. It’s quite fitting then that Bangkok Theatre Festival 2008 will next week revive one of her most critically a....

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Saturday , November 22 , 2008

Thai ARMS AND THE MAN kicks off Bangkok Theatre Festival TODAY

Posted by dance_and_theatre , Reader : 933 , 10:17:10 | Category : Theatre 2008 Bangkok Festivals 2008

One of the most acclaimed plays ever to appear at the Montienthong Theatre was "Chart Chai Nai Thong Mee", Suphon Vichienchai and Thanawadee Sathityudhakarn's ingenious adaptation of George Bernard Shaw's "Arms and the Man". Now the New Theatre Society is revisiting Shaw's work, with "Maha Burut Ayutthaya" adding to the allure of the Bangkok Theatre Festival. Director Da....

One of the most acclaimed plays ever to appear at the Montienthong Theatre was "Chart Chai Nai Thong Mee", Suphon Vichienchai and Thanawadee Sathityudhakarn's ingenious adaptation of George Bernard Shaw's "Arms and the Man". Now the New Theatre Society is revisiting Shaw's work, with "Maha Burut Ayutthaya" adding to the allure of the Bangkok Theatre Festival. Director Da....

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THAI OPERA: The Story of LONG-GONE ANIMALS

Posted by dance_and_theatre , Reader : 924 , 10:08:06 | Category : Theatre 2008 Bangkok Festivals 2008

'The Story of LongGone Animals' tells of a suicidal Bangkok teen, whose joy is musically resurrected through magical encounters with extinct creatures.Husband and wife team Krissada and Napisi Reyes have corralled decades of experience in music and children's theatre into the three-act opera "The Story of Long-Gone Animals", which gets its world premiere on November 21. "We've been ins....

'The Story of LongGone Animals' tells of a suicidal Bangkok teen, whose joy is musically resurrected through magical encounters with extinct creatures.Husband and wife team Krissada and Napisi Reyes have corralled decades of experience in music and children's theatre into the three-act opera "The Story of Long-Gone Animals", which gets its world premiere on November 21. "We've been ins....

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Friday , November 7 , 2008

all the CITY is a STAGE

Posted by dance_and_theatre , Reader : 1154 , 10:49:24 | Category : Dance 2008 Theatre 2008 Bangkok Festivals 2008

Recently, you may have already found a bi-lingual free newsletter titled “Theatre Sparks Life” at your favorite coffee shop. Quite obviously, the organizing team for the year’s largest showcase of Thai theatre—traditional and modern, conventional and experimental, new works and revivals—is more prepared than ever. Well, the program schedule is also announced. It seems like the last piece of this spa....

Recently, you may have already found a bi-lingual free newsletter titled “Theatre Sparks Life” at your favorite coffee shop. Quite obviously, the organizing team for the year’s largest showcase of Thai theatre—traditional and modern, conventional and experimental, new works and revivals—is more prepared than ever. Well, the program schedule is also announced. It seems like the last piece of this spa....

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Wednesday , October 22 , 2008

unFulFilling Fest

Posted by dance_and_theatre , Reader : 852 , 00:59:33 | Category : Dance 2008 Bangkok Festivals 2008

Bangkok’s 10th International Festival of Dance and Music has drawn its curtain, yet scoring far from 10 out of 10, despite the fact that, like in the previous years, it has breathed much life into the performing arts scene here. After an unfulfilling classical ballet weekend, contemporary productions as well as traditional showcases were also not real treats to the eyes and minds. Although the perfor....

Bangkok’s 10th International Festival of Dance and Music has drawn its curtain, yet scoring far from 10 out of 10, despite the fact that, like in the previous years, it has breathed much life into the performing arts scene here. After an unfulfilling classical ballet weekend, contemporary productions as well as traditional showcases were also not real treats to the eyes and minds. Although the perfor....

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Wednesday , October 8 , 2008

FESTs FINALEs

Posted by dance_and_theatre , Reader : 836 , 10:06:38 | Category : Dance 2008 Bangkok Festivals 2008

Bangkok’s 10th International Festival of Dance and Music is coming to the end, and you would not want to miss these two dance productions.Spain’s top award “Premio Nacional de Danza” recipient and internationally acclaimed star Sara Baras is back with a new production “Sabores” (“Falvours”), in which she blends myriads of styles—tango, seguiriya, martinete, zambra, taranto, burelia, and more—with pas....

Bangkok’s 10th International Festival of Dance and Music is coming to the end, and you would not want to miss these two dance productions.Spain’s top award “Premio Nacional de Danza” recipient and internationally acclaimed star Sara Baras is back with a new production “Sabores” (“Falvours”), in which she blends myriads of styles—tango, seguiriya, martinete, zambra, taranto, burelia, and more—with pas....

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Tuesday , September 30 , 2008

1ST week @ the 10TH FEST

Posted by dance_and_theatre , Reader : 956 , 21:49:54 | Category : Dance 2008 Theatre 2008 Bangkok Festivals 2008

Despite less media buzz and lower ticket sales than previous years, partly due to the current political and economic situations, Bangkok’s 10th International Festival kicked off in grand style and, with a wide variety of programmes, is running at its full strength. On Monday 15th September at Thailand Cultural Centre, HRH Princess Somsawalee graciously presided over the symphony concert by the Russia....

Despite less media buzz and lower ticket sales than previous years, partly due to the current political and economic situations, Bangkok’s 10th International Festival kicked off in grand style and, with a wide variety of programmes, is running at its full strength. On Monday 15th September at Thailand Cultural Centre, HRH Princess Somsawalee graciously presided over the symphony concert by the Russia....

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Thursday , September 25 , 2008

CONTEMPORARY fortnight

Posted by dance_and_theatre , Reader : 1052 , 00:38:25 | Category : Dance 2008 Bangkok Festivals 2008

Three of the world’s most renowned dance companies are here; let’s spend some of our evenings at Thailand Cultural Centre in the next 10 days.Interestingly enough, it’s none of these three companies’ Bangkok debut. It’s the 10th anniversary of Bangkok’s International Festival of Dance and Music, and that’s why the organizers have invited three of our favourite dance companies back again. Five years a....

Three of the world’s most renowned dance companies are here; let’s spend some of our evenings at Thailand Cultural Centre in the next 10 days.Interestingly enough, it’s none of these three companies’ Bangkok debut. It’s the 10th anniversary of Bangkok’s International Festival of Dance and Music, and that’s why the organizers have invited three of our favourite dance companies back again. Five years a....

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Sunday , September 21 , 2008

CLASSICAL weekend

Posted by dance_and_theatre , Reader : 1124 , 01:47:17 | Category : Dance 2008 Bangkok Festivals 2008

Two classical ballets and one symphony concert for local performing arts aficionados this weekend. The second part of Bangkok’s 10th International Festival of Dance and Music, a dedication to the memory of HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana, opened on Monday (September 15) with a mesmerizing world premiere of “Requiem Aeternam for Princess Galyani”, performed by the Russian Symphony Orchestra. The event w....

Two classical ballets and one symphony concert for local performing arts aficionados this weekend. The second part of Bangkok’s 10th International Festival of Dance and Music, a dedication to the memory of HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana, opened on Monday (September 15) with a mesmerizing world premiere of “Requiem Aeternam for Princess Galyani”, performed by the Russian Symphony Orchestra. The event w....

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Thursday , September 18 , 2008

Bangkoks 10th International Festival of Dance and Music

Posted by dance_and_theatre , Reader : 1270 , 08:29:47 | Category : Dance 2008 Bangkok Festivals 2008

One month from this Monday (September 15) onwards, it's world class performing arts as usual at Thailand Cultural Centre. Despite the current political unrest and economic woes, Bangkok’s 10th International Festival of Dance and Music, raised the curtain of its second part on Monday and will continue as scheduled. The tenth edition of Thailand’s largest, and most diverse, annual showcase of internati....

One month from this Monday (September 15) onwards, it's world class performing arts as usual at Thailand Cultural Centre. Despite the current political unrest and economic woes, Bangkok’s 10th International Festival of Dance and Music, raised the curtain of its second part on Monday and will continue as scheduled. The tenth edition of Thailand’s largest, and most diverse, annual showcase of internati....

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Thursday , August 7 , 2008

mourning DEATH; celebrating LIFE

Posted by dance_and_theatre , Reader : 1049 , 23:08:59 | Category : Bangkok Festivals 2008

Ask anyone who was quick, and affluent, enough to book a ticket to last Wednesday’s concert by Zubin Mehta and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (IPO)—respectively, one of the world’s greatest living conductors and busiest orchestras whose unique and strong partnership in spreading peace messages around the world has lasted more than three decades—and the responses would probably be unanimous. It’s t....

Ask anyone who was quick, and affluent, enough to book a ticket to last Wednesday’s concert by Zubin Mehta and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (IPO)—respectively, one of the world’s greatest living conductors and busiest orchestras whose unique and strong partnership in spreading peace messages around the world has lasted more than three decades—and the responses would probably be unanimous. It’s t....

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Monday , July 28 , 2008

classical music CONCERT OF THE YEAR

Posted by dance_and_theatre , Reader : 956 , 00:56:06 | Category : Bangkok Festivals 2008

If you don't already have one, good luck getting a ticket to Zubin Mehta's evening with the Israel Philharmonic. The Embassy of Israel in Bangkok and International Cultural Promotions' chairman JS Uberoi have worked together for five years to bring to fruition a dream of Bangkok's classical-music aficionados. Now, it is mission accomplished with Zubin Mehta conducting the Israel Philharmonic Orchestr....

If you don't already have one, good luck getting a ticket to Zubin Mehta's evening with the Israel Philharmonic. The Embassy of Israel in Bangkok and International Cultural Promotions' chairman JS Uberoi have worked together for five years to bring to fruition a dream of Bangkok's classical-music aficionados. Now, it is mission accomplished with Zubin Mehta conducting the Israel Philharmonic Orchestr....

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Thursday , July 24 , 2008

Bangkok now needs its own MULTI-GENRE ARTS FESTIVAL

Posted by dance_and_theatre , Reader : 943 , 10:37:52 | Category : Dance 2008 Theatre 2008 Bangkok Festivals 2008

The number of arts venues in Bangkok - galleries, playhouses, and multi-purpose venues - has risen significantly in the past few years, consequently so has the number of arts events. And yet, one cannot categorically state that the arts are prospering here in the City of Angels. That's partly because the concept of the arts being for everyone has not yet been brought to its full fruition. When it com....

The number of arts venues in Bangkok - galleries, playhouses, and multi-purpose venues - has risen significantly in the past few years, consequently so has the number of arts events. And yet, one cannot categorically state that the arts are prospering here in the City of Angels. That's partly because the concept of the arts being for everyone has not yet been brought to its full fruition. When it com....

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