Pan Pan Narkprasert, better known by his stage name Pangina Heals, is a female impersonator and an award-winning waack dancer. Pan Pan currently performs at parties hosted by G-Spot, headlines at The Stranger Bar on drag nights and hosts gay nights at Maggie Choo's.
From left to right: Pan Pan Narkprasert, Steven Ward, Steven Fry, David Sef. Photos: Culture Collective Studio
Pan Pan will soon make his acting debut, when he joins the main cast of the upcoming play, The Lisbon Traviata, written by American playwright Terrence McNally and produced by English-language multicultural theatre group Culture Collective Studio, which is based in Bangkok. The play has been dubbed a "homoromantic", and is intended for mature audiences. Guru speaks with Pan Pan about the production.
What can you tell us about the play? Give us a few teasers.
Pan Pan Narkprasert.
Cross-dressing dramatics, insane ex-boyfriends and a straight boy's buttocks. Besides all these, the play centres around Stephen, an editor and opera fan who is about to lose his doctor lover to a much younger man, although they still live together. Steven Fry, who's known for his work with Bangkok Community Theatre, plays Stephen.
Who do you play?
Mendy, a worldly elegant cross-dressing opera nerd and Stephen's best friend. She is obsessed with Maria Callas (a world-renowned American-born Greek opera singer). Mendy's fabulously outrageous and I love playing her.
How do you feel about making a debut as an actor?
I always like being put in uncomfortable positions -- pun intended. I like challenging myself creatively and artistically. The more I try new things, the freer I feel. After being crowned the winner of T-Battle (Thailand's first reality competition show for drag queens) in January, I felt that the next step for me to grow as an entertainer was theatre. We all know theatre is a daunting realm that many fear, including me. When [Culture Collective's founder and artistic director] Loni Berry approached me about playing the role, I thought to myself, "Why the f*#@ not?" The character is already kind of like me in drag, but more refined and cultured. In all seriousness, though, I learned from this experience so much about the process of acting, like how to become another character and the fun in developing that persona into a complete, well-rounded person.
Any words to those who may be interested in seeing the play?
It deals with a complex relationship, something that is personal yet universal because everyone, gay or straight, can relate to it. Besides the drama, there is also comedy thrown in for good measure. If it's a cocktail, it will be a sophisticated mix of sexy, sweet and strong. And I'm the cherry on the top, obviously.
The Lisbon Traviata runs at Culture Collective Studio (3/F, Chatrium Residence Riverside Bangkok, Charoen Krung Soi 70), from Oct 8-Nov 15. Visit www.culture-collective.com for tickets.
