Bangkok--Sep 13--TAT
SEPTEMBER 25-26, 2004
THE JOE LOUIS THEATRE PRESENTS
A SPECIAL PERFORMANCE OF THE RAMAYANA
At the Joe Louis Theatre
17.00 and 19.30
The Joe Louis Theatre at Suan-Lum Night Bazaar in Bangkok presents daily performances of 'Hun Lakhon Lek' traditional Thai small puppets. Sakorn Yangkhiawsod, founder of the Hun Lakhon Lek Joe Louis Troupe and the country's last 'Grand Master' of small puppet performers, is more widely known as Joe Louis. The puppet master made his first puppet when he was 20, and over the years, crafted a fine collection of 50 traditional Thai puppets, both large and small.
In 1996, in recognition of his efforts to revive traditional Thai puppetry and preserve this ancient art making it an important showcase of Thai cultural heritage, Sakorn Yangkhiawsod was consecrated "National Artist". The Joe Louis troupe remains Thailand's only troupe that still performs the Hun Lakhon Lek Thai traditional small puppet play and remains the sole guardian of this dying art form.
The most popular play performed by the Joe Louis puppet troupe is the famous "Ramayana" epic (Ramakien in Thai), regularly performed in Thailand and the countries of South and Southeast Asia.
On September 25-26, 2004, the Joe Louis Theatre will present a special 1-hour performance of the great epic Ramayana in the form of a 'Khon' play - a traditional Thai stage drama but featuring traditional Thai puppets called 'hun lakhon lek'. The 'Khon' play is accompanied by traditional Thai music performed live.
A visit to the theatre also includes an opportunity to witness the painstaking process of crafting a Thai traditional mask known as the Hua Khon, as taught by venerable artist Joe Louis to his students. In the loving memory of the Grand Master - 'The bringer of life to Hun Lakhon Lek', Surin Yangkhiawsod, his seventh child, is working to promote the preservation and study of Hun Lakhon Lek for future generations and is entrusted with the task of passing on this knowledge to the next generation of performers.
For a comprehensive introduction to the 'Hun Lakhon Lek' traditional Thai small puppets and daily performances, please visit the Joe Louis Theatre web site. www.joelouis-theater.com/eng/
Contact information:
Joe Louis Theatre
Bangkok Suan-lum Night Bazaar
1875 Rama IV Road, Lumpini, Pathumwan
Bangkok 10330
Tel: +66 (0) 2252 9683/ 4
Fax: +66 (0) 2252 9685
Email: joelouistheater_pr@hotmail.com
Reservations can be made directly at Joe Louis Theatre box office or via the web site. www.joelouis-theater.com/eng/ End.
--InfoQuest (NM)--