Theatrical movement

Published on November 2, 2007

Although the Bangkok Theatre Festival is expanding across the city, the bulk of the events still take place at Santi Chaipakarn Park and in pubs and restaurants on Phra Arthit Road.

Now in its sixth year, the Bangkok Theatre Festival is taking a new and exciting route - literally - expanding the festival to venues throughout the capital, and encouraging festival goers to travel from show to show.

Organised by the Bangkok Theatre Network, the country's largest gathering of professional, amateur and student playmakers, the Bangkok Theatre Festival marks the arrival of the cool season, and, hopefully, the end of the rainy season. This the time of the year when people tend to stay out late in the evening and would rather not stay home during the weekend, enjoying weather that is less hot and humid.

Since 2002, the festival has offered an alternative to swilling beverages in a beer garden, by offering some of the most cutting-edge works in contemporary Thai theatre.

"I think the past five festivals have shown that there are a lot of people who are constantly and professionally creating theatre works," says Sarawanee Utoomma, a veteran actress, playwright, director and member of the Makhampom theatre company. She takes on the role of the festival's artistic director for the first time. "The public now knows that the Bangkok Theatre Festival will return every November. We see new faces in the audiences every year. On the other side of the coin, the number of theatre companies and artists, both in the Bangkok Theatre Network, and outside, is growing."

In past years, the festival has been centred in the Bang Lamphu area, with an outdoor stage at Santi Chaiprakarn Park, as well as bars and cafes on Phra Arthit Road.

"The most significant change is that this year we've expended it so that some plays are being staged in other well-established small theatre spaces, instead of just the Bang Lamphu area like in the previous five festivals," says Sarawanee.

These new venues include the Manta Theatre on Vibhavadi Soi 58, the Makhampom Studio at the Saphan Kwai intersection, the Crescent Moon Space on Soi Thonglor, 8X8 Corner in Samyan Market, and even Thailand Cultural Centre's Small Hall.

 "This has been our dream from the beginning," Sarawanee says. "We always wanted the Bangkok Theatre Festival to be citywide, and this year we're experimenting on this 'Theatre Route' scheme. We started here in Bang Lamphu because of the immense support from this community. But many theatre companies have been working very hard to find their own spaces where they could both rehearse and present their works. And this past year, these dreams have been realised in various corners of Bangkok."

A new concept, the "Theatre Route" is experimental because Sarawanee isn't sure it is going to work, because many audiences are used to coming to Bang Lamphu in November for the festival. "Frankly, I'm not sure how many people will go to those spaces. But for those who go, then, it would give them more convenience, and they can be part of BTF without having to come all the way to Bang Lamphu," she says.

And it's not only the various theatre companies performing in their own spaces, Sarawanee says. "Although these theatre spaces are privately owned and run by certain companies, they will open up for other troupes during the festival. For example, a troupe from the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce will stage 'Pipop Matchu Gay' ('Then, We've Got the Real Answer?') at the Makhampom Studio, and Theatre 69 will perform 'Tid Kab' ('Blackbird') at the Crescent Moon Space."

The fact that many performances will be staged away from the festival's traditional hub hasn't resulted in fewer shows at scenic Santi Chaiprakarn Park, as well as the pubs, cafes, bars and restaurants along Phra Arthit Road. Bang Lamphu will be vivid as always, Sarawanee says.

"One of the main objectives of the festival is to give an opportunity for theatre artists to meet, socialise, and collaborate. With this in mind, we kindly request that, all companies, some of which are presenting works in their own spaces, also stage some pieces in the Bang Lamphu area."

Another experiment is that some plays are scheduled to be performed on weekdays.

"We don't want all the troupes to compete in drawing the audience into their venues over the weekend. Also, it's more convenient for some audiences to go to these theatres on weekdays after work. Some companies, by doing this, are also testing the market," Sarawanee says.

Apart from the performances, the festival features talks and discussions. For example, at 6pm on November 10, at Krua Noparat across from Phra Sumen Fortress there will be a debate between theatre critics, led by Kittisak Suvarnaphokin, and commercial theatre producers, led by Teravat "Sang 108 Mongkut" Anuvatudom, the director of "Chai Klang". Weekend's own theatre correspondent will also be in the boxing ring, or rather, the panel. So, if his name suddenly disappears from print, then you know why.

The Bangkok Theatre Festival starts tomorrow and runs until November 18 at various venues throughout the capital. Ticket prices range from free to Bt1,000, and can be booked by calling (085) 920 8226. For more information, call (086) 722 1435 or see www.lakorn.org.

Pawit Mahasarinand  

The writer can be contacted at Pawit.M@chula.ac.th.

As is customary, Weekend offers its picks of "must-see" productions at the Bangkok Theatre Festival. However, because of the fluid nature of some of these productions, it wasn't possible for all to be seen by the reviewer, so (dis)satisfaction cannot be fully guaranteed.