Published on January 18, 2006

The Culture Ministry plans to hold a Thai cultural week in France with a Khon performance as the event’s highlight in September this year to mark the 60th anniversary of HM the King’s accession to the throne.

Permanent Secretary Dhipavadee Meksawan said the Culture Ministry in co-operation with the French ministry of foreign affairs will organise the event in order to promote Thai culture, and strengthen ties between the two countries.

The highlight of the week will be the Khon performance from the Ramakien (Ramayana)’s Nang Loy by the Fine Arts Department, which is scheduled to be performed on September 18, at the prestigious Royal Opera House. The theatre can accommodate 600 people. The Khon performance will also travel to Lyon’s 1,100-seat Opera de Lyon.

“We’ll take this occasion to adapt the Khon performance so that it can be easily understood by foreigners. We may produce a brochure to introduce key characters and a brief story of the Ramakien, which will make the show more enjoyable to first-time Khon viewers,” said Dhipavadee.

The ministry, led Uraiwan Thienthong, last year staged a Khon performance at the Sala Pratassi in Rome, Italy. The performance was well-received by theatre-goers there.

Apart from the Khon performance, the cultural week will also showcase Thai folk plays, puppets, classical and contemporary music, as well as the sale of OTOP (One Tambon One Product) products. There will also be an exhibition on Thai-French relations.

Pakamard Jaichalard

The Nation

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