A decade ago, theatre was still seen an art form on the margin in Thailand. That is less true today. Visual art and design events are beginning to include theatre in their programmes. The new art and design event Freeform Festival has revived an abandoned school building at ACMEN Ekamai Complex with exhibitions, workshops, food trucks, plays and dance. Their performing arts programme is a solid one. Hopefully, this will become another platform for quality theatre in the future.
Human
It's difficult to find a choreographer in Thailand who creates purely contemporary dance performances. So Navinda Pachimsawat inadvertently becomes this rare bird. Her creations so far have involved no text, no hard-hitting issues, no experimenting with traditional art forms. They are just dance. And how refreshing! She has not only been consistently creating works these last few years, but she's also developed a distinctive style defined by angular shapes, mechanical movements and urban spaces. Human, which premiered in June at the Bangkok Design Festival at ChangChui, is her most ambitious and affecting piece to date. This time, she and three other dancers play with mirrors, forming structures, spaces and movement patterns with them. The dancing -- athletic and powerful -- is intensified by Nuttaphon Lerswanuswong and Kevin Inthawong's electrifying sound design. An exciting new work by a young artist.
Moo Bin Dai. Photo: Seeing The Same
Moo Bin Dai | By the Way Theatre
Director Jaturachai Srichanwanpen, formerly of Naked Masks Theatre, revives his 2008 adaptation of Ong-art Chaicharncheep's awarding-winning children's book of the same name. The musical tells the story of Kongdin, a pig born with wings. She works hard to fulfil her dream of flying but is discouraged from this unusual vocation by other pigs. Although a little bittersweet, the musical still has a positive message for children and sharp social commentaries for adults. The bittersweet note should go undetected by children below the age of five. They, like the adults, may be delighted by the set made of pillows and quilts in shades of pink, blue and yellow, by the music, the comedy and the wonderful energy of the cast.
Private Conversation. Photo: Atikhun Adulpocatorn
Private Conversation: A Farewell to Love Of Siam | Apropos
Singer-songwriter and actor Witwisit "Pich" Hiranyawongkul was catapulted to fame 10 years ago when he played Mew, a sensitive gay high school student, in Rak Haeng Siam (Love Of Siam), a landmark Thai film lauded for its frank portrayal of teenage love and sexual exploration. The conversation we witness is between Mew, still a sensitive high school student, and Pich, all grown up and internationally famous, but still haunted by his iconic role. That an actor imagines settling a score with a role that has both helped and trapped him as an artist is not surprising. That an artist so young has written a play this smart and funny and portrays two versions of himself so effortlessly is indeed rare. Pich has set the bar high.
Moo Bin Dai continues until Sunday at 6.30 and 8pm, at Theatre 2, ACMEN Ekamai Complex, Ekamai 15. Tickets are 150 baht (80 baht for children below the age of 13). To reserve, call 089-690-0442 or visit the Facebook event page at bit.ly/2Ae5xx1. The play is in Thai with no surtitles.
Private Conversation continues tomorrow and Saturday at 7pm and Sunday at 5pm. Tickets are 500 baht. To reserve, call 081-071-7992 or visit www.ticketmelon.com. The play is in Thai with English surtitles.
