Held continuously at Santichaiprakarn Park for the past 12 years, this festival has become synonymous with winter for theater devotees. It returns this year, though with a change in location, due to mourning rites for the Supreme Patriach being held in the area. Shows will now be held at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre with a few performances at Pridi Banomyong Institute. We’ll miss the park’s atmosphere, but the BACC (BTS National Stadium) is a lot easier to get to.
The festival continues to expand and now boasts over 70 performances by amateurs and prominent professional groups including 8x8 Theatre, Anatta Theatre, B-Floor Theatre, Crescentmoon Theatre, New Theatre Society, SomMood and Sao Soong. The range of shows is massive, from physical theater, mime and performance art to contemporary dance.
The shows are performed on various stages inside the BACC, as well as on the front plaza. Here are some of the highlights:
Avasarn Kwam Chei (Blow Up the Silence) Nov 9-10
No sitting and watching, here: In this play by the Malongdu troupe, you will be urged to stand up and partake in the play which will comprise three short stories based on current social issues.
Kon Song Jao (Silhouette of God) Nov 9-10
A play by students from the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC) which garnered a positive reception and awards at the Nanning Theatre Festival in China. Written and directed by Dumgerng Thaitapiyasak, it’s an adaptation of SEA Write Award-winner Wimol Sainimnuan’s eponymous novel on the corrupting influence of power and money.
San Dan Ka (The Nature of a Crow) Nov 9-10
Butoh is a modern Japanese dance form defined by hyper-controlled motion and often out-there imagery which can range from grotesque to absurd. This performance by the B-Floor collective draws inspiration from Anupong Chanthorn’s controversial paintings of beaked, misbehaving monks to tackle the taboo issue of their sacredness. The performance premiered in 2009 to great critical acclaim and was invited to perform at Mexico’s Puebia International Theatre Festival earlier this year.
Babymime Show Nov 9-10
The popular pantomime trio Babymime (Thong-glur Tongta, Nutapol Kummata and Ratchai Rujiwipatana) have just complete a tour abroad and are back on their home turf for the festival they emerged from. Their lighthearted mime performances are guaranteed to take you back to your childhood, put a smile on your face or even trigger tears of laughter.
BACC, Rama 1 Rd., 02-214-6630. BTS National Stadium.
Tickets (B200-500) required for some shows at 080-447-6553.
Supposedly to get us all excited and prepped for the coming of the ASEAN Community, this festival features seminars, talks, art and cultural workshops, exhibitions and showcases. Details are still sketchy but it’s actually been on since August, although it’s meant to gather steam this November as it screens a film every Thursday (6-8pm) for free. Mid-December things pick up further with the “ASEAN Nights: ASEAN Beyond Frontier program,” which will show films, performances and serve up street food on the BACC’s plaza (from 4pm).
BACC, Rama 1 Rd., 02-214-6630. BTS National Stadium.
Free admission.
Here’s one for your niece or nephew—the winter’s got a festival for them, too. Held for the ninth time, the edutainment Science Film Festival at TK Park aims to make science fun and easy to understand. A total of 26 films from 14 countries have been selected for screening. Highlights include You, Planet (Austria) and Living with Robots (France).
TK Park, 8/F CentralWorld, Ratchadamri Rd. BTS Chit Lom. Full details at www.sciencefilmfestival.org. Reservations at 02-257-4300 ext. 223
Free admission.
Q&A
Nut Nualpang
Artistic Director of Bangkok Theater Festival
This will be the first time that the festival is not held at Santichaiprakarn Park?
It really took us by surprise. We only knew a few hours prior to the press conference that we could not use the park and had to change our plans within an hour. Our thanks go to the BACC, who have been so helpful. The atmosphere may be different this time but it should provide a freshness to the festival.
Does it make life holding the festival harder for you?
We just need to adapt. We’ve been told to keep it soft, too, as we’re in the mourning period. But the core of the festival—the performances—are still there, so it should be fun. As it’s at the BACC, it will be much more urban, which is a welcome change. I think the new location will attract a bigger audience which can only be a good thing. I don’t think the festival will lose its charm one bit.
What does the festival mean to Thai theater?
It’s like a traditional family gathering for theater troupes now. Still, it never ceases to surprise us. Many past audience members are now performers. Every year, there’s a new wave of performers emerging and we are just happy to witness new talent make a name for themselves. It really strengthens the theater culture in our country. It brings together theater groups and lets people experience something new.
What’s behind the festival’s longevity?
I think it is down to the diversity of performances, from funny to abstract. It really has something for audiences of any age. It’s a very lively festival, though it has a laidback atmosphere and all the fun you would expect when people gather for shows. There’s no other time you can watch so many shows in once place, too!
Selected from over 800 globally submitted titles, you can expect the 60 films shown at the festival this year to be the cream of the crop. Screenings are spread over 10 days at SF World Cinema from Nov 15-24. The selected films are categorized into five categories: Asian Contemporary, Cine Latino, Cinema Beat, Doc Feast, Short Wave and a retrospective of Thai veteran actress Jarunee Suksawas.
The festival is also a good chance to catch any films you missed out on like Karaoke Girl, Tang Wong and the controversial documentary Boundary. As for the inter flicks, we’re looking forward to The Cleaner (Peru), The Last Shepherd (Italy) and Instant Mommy (The Philippines). You can also see The Itshmus (Thailand) which premiered at the Busan International Film Festival and is now finally making its Bangkok premieres
The Cleaner (Peru) Nov 16, 23
This sci-fi drama film by Adrian Saba, chosen to represent Peru in the foreign language Oscar category, narrates a bizarre epidemic that hits Lima, leaving a forensic cleaner (Victor Prada) to take care of an eight-year-old boy (Adrian Du Bois).
The Isthmus (Thailand) Nov 21, 23
Starring Sangthong Gate U-Thong, this film tells the story of a mother, Da, who after her Burmese maid dies, sees her eight-year-old daughter mysteriously lose her mother tongue and speak only Burmese. Sa takes her little girl to a Burmese doctor in Ranong where they encounter a whole different world within the Burmese community.
The Last Shepherd (Italy) Nov 16, 23
A film by Marco Bonfanti which follows Renato Zucchelli, a traveling shepherd in the Italian Alps, who dreams of taking his sheep into the heart of Milan.
SF World Cinema, 7/F CentralWorld, Ratchadamri Rd., 089-685-5253. BTS Chit Lom.
After taking a year off, The International Butoh Festival makes a comeback under the theme of Butoh Women and will feature exclusively female international Butoh artists including Yuko Kawamoto (Japan), Natalie K. Kim (Korea), Yeow Lai Chee (Malaysia), Sylvie Bruzeau (France) and Vinci Mok (Hong Kong), who will be joined by Thai artists Bo Kittiphon and Sasapin Siriwanij. Alongside the performances are an exhibition of Butoh-inspired photography, video, and installation, as well as Butoh workshops by the artists (B1,000 per workshop).
The Bangkok Symphony Orchestra continues its much-loved winter tradition of playing popular favorites with different guest vocalists every Sunday at the adorable Sala Bhirom Bhakdi. Expect anything from Thai and Western classical music to popular Broadway scores amid Lumphini’s vegetation. Get there early to choose a good picnic spot and make sure you bring your booze in fruit juice bottles to avoid detection.
5:30pm. Sala Bhirom Bhakdi, Lumphini Park. MRT Lumphini and BTS Sala Daeng.
Free admission.
After debuting last year under the theme of New York and London Inspired, this festival returns with a much simpler theme, “winter.” This weekend gathering held by Sansiri on its bridge across Khlong Phra Khanong is pretty similar to a farmers market with over 70 booths offering everything from food, vintage clothing and live performances. Judging from last time, it’s suited mostly to families and couples.
1-8pm. Saan Sam Ran Bridge, behind The Base Sukhumvit 77.
Free admission.
Hot on the heels of the Bangkok Theatre Festival, this will be the season’s other big-ticket festival. Oddly, they’re saying that there’s an ASEAN theme to the whole thing, but actually, you can expect international acts from all four corners of the globe.
Headlined by The Vertical Dance Company Il Posto, the festival will see the Italian troupe showcase their gravity-defying aerial choreography set to live music. (Nov 22, 23, 7pm)
Celebrated choreographer and dancer Rina Shenfeld, from Israel, also returns (Nov 24, 7pm), as well as the Istanbul State Opera and Ballet who will showcase their explosive and vibrant performance. (Nov 27-29, 7pm)
Other highlights include performances from groups like Korea’s Zen Dance, Singapore’s Maya Dance Theatre and Jitti Chompee’s 18 Monkeys Dance Theatre.
Alongside these performances are workshops, master classes, visual arts exhibition, and film screenings, which are open to the public.
BACC, Rama 1 Rd., 02-214-6630. BTS National Stadium.Tickets are required for some shows. Full schedule at http://dance-festival.info. B600-1,800 (B300 for students) from Thaiticketmajor
Q&A
Vararom Pachimsawat
Director of Friends of the Arts Foundation and the International Dance Festival.
The festival is being held for the 13th time; what’s there to look forward to?
Many would say it’s bigger and better this time. For me, the festival just continues to grow naturally. We started out very small and now we are hosting a number of dance groups from many countries. The festival is gaining more attention every year. With such renowned and exciting groups in attendance, it’s really a no-brainer for dance fans. But for those new to performance art, too, I’m sure you will have an enjoyable time.
What do you suggest for newcomers with little knowledge of dance?
It must be the spectacular performance by the Il Posto Vertical Dance Company from Italy. With a soundtrack of saxophone and a strong rhythm section, it’s really engaging. We are fully aware that it’s not easy for people who are not really into dance to sit through an hour-long performance. That’s why we have these kind of preview shows where each group performs briefly for about 15 minutes. The audience can experience every show that way, be entertained and slowly be introduced to performance art.
Tell us about the Thai dance scene at the moment.
It’s completely different from 10 years ago. We have so many great talents in dance and performance art—but we mustn’t take it easy. We need a sustained effort in order to keep Thai performance art growing. I’m not worried at all about Thai performers’ skills or creativity.
What do you hope to achieve from the festival?
The reason we’ve been continually doing festivals and smaller events like this is to lay the foundation for the young generation of Thai artists. That’s why it’s not just about bringing in these international groups to perform, but also to hold workshops and master classes for our young talent. We also give them the opportunity to perform at the festival. It’s very important we nurture our talent as well as our audience.
Museum Siam is all set to jazz things up in Phra Nakorn with a series of evening events. As this year’s theme is Charoen Arhan (Bon Appetit), you can look forward to a mix of live performances, later opening hours and temporary exhibitions related to food.
6-10pm. Museum Siam, 4 Sanam Chai Rd. Free admission.
If you can’t make it to all those out-of-town festivals, head for this street music festival by Museum Siam and Panda Records. Noise Market features a music-focused flea market where you can browse for CDs, rare vinyl, as well as other music-related merchandise like t-shirts and bags while enjoying live music by independent record labels including Comet Records, Color Code, Final Kid Group, Hitman Jazz Records, Panda Records, Rats Records and So::On Dry Flower, plus free art and DIY workshops.
2-10pm. Museum Siam, amphitheater, 4 Sanam Chai Rd.
Free admission.
The yearly free film screenings return to BACC under the theme of Director’s choice, with movies selected by five prominent Thai directors including: Pen-Ek Ratanaruang, Nonzee Nimitbutr, Jira Maligoo and Tanwarin Sukkhapisit. It kicks off this week (Nov 9) with Director Kondej Jaturanrasmee’s choice, Synecdoche, New York (2008), Charlie Kaufman’s award-winning surrealist film. Screenings are in English with Thai subtitles and each director will give a talk after each screening.
The next screening on Jan 25 is chosen by the director of Insects in the Backyard, Tanwarin Sukkhapisit, who will screen a Japanese drama, Himizu (2011), about two teenagers whose lives take a dark turn after a tsunami hits Japan.
4:30-9pm. BACC, Rama 1 Rd., 02-214-6630. Free admission.
Not only is this festival outdoors but it’s by the river, at Asiatique. The first day will be headlined by Singaporean vocalist, Olivia Ong, who has won quite a number of Thai fans with her renditions of bossa nova classics. Olivia will be joined by English band Shakatak who have been mixing jazz with funk and pop since the 80s.
On Sunday, Natalie Cole takes over the stage. The daughter of the legendary Nat King Cole brings her famous takes on Bruce Springsteen's "Pink Cadillac” and her father’s “Unforgettable,” with local act Ben Chalatit and Koh Mr.Saxman playing until the earlier hours.
6pm-midnight. Asiatique, 2194 Charoenkrung Rd., 02-108-4488.
Tickets B2,000 (B3,500 for two-day pass) from Thaiticketmajor.
Big Mountain
Dec 7-8
The mother of all the big out-of-town music festivals, Big Mountain, will take place at Bonanza in Khao Yai. Headliners span a range of genres from the 90s pop of 2 Days Ago Kids, sweet-pop of Armchair to the hard-hitting alternative rock of Abuse The Youth. Of course, all the big name rockers, like Bodyslam and Big Ass will be there too, along with indie mainstays The Standards. International acts include Austra from Canada, Bombi and the Shuta Hasunuma Group from Japan and Cells from Laos. It sounds a lot like last year, but you’re going for the atmosphere, not a ground-breaking lineup.
Bonanza Khao-Yai, Khao Yai National Park Na Hin Lat, Park Phli, Nakorn Nayok.
Tickets B1,900 for a two-day pass with buy-five-get-one-free from Thaiticketmajor.
Stone Free Music Festival
Dec 14
If you prefer a more folky, experimental and less conventional kind of festival, this one’s for you. Founded back in 2011 by the Panda Records crew led by Pok Wannarit Pongprayoon (Stylish Nonsense, Basement Tape) and Tokin Teekanun (also in Triggs & The Longest Day), the third edition's lineup hasn’t been announced yet but going on previous years you can expect experimental sounds that traverse electro-pop, noise-rock and folk from bands like Stylish Nonsense, Abstraction XL, Basement Tape and Desktop Error, as well as underground acts from labels like So::On Dry Flower, along with the promised mixed media installation, A Part Of You, A Part Of Me, by Tokin.
Ticket and location information to be announced.
Over Coat
Dec 7
This intimate, romantic and chilled-out festival promises the likes of Tu Phobtorn, Toe Saksit, Nat Sakdatorn, Sani and Patcha from Academy Fantasia, 123 Soul, Watcharawalee, Friday, POP, Singular, Tattoo Colour, Better Weather, Mild, Lipta, ETC and 25 Hours. Perhaps not a lineup to get the pulses racing but a great excuse to take a tumble on the lush green grass of Starlight by Jolly Land.
4:30pm. Starlight by Jolly Land, Khao Kor, Petchaboon.
Tickets B1,500 from Thaiticketmajor.
BK ASKS
What's the craziest thing you've done outdoors?
|
Jitt Kasemsri
22, market researcher
“I went home barefoot drunk in a flood after clubbing, having lost my shoes. I was kicked out from a cab and had to walk through the water to get home, alone.”
|
Elyse Quivooy
20, student
“I once went swimming in the lake at Lumpini Park in my underpants. It was already getting dark so a few friends and I decided to be spontaneous and try to swim across the lake. Before we even had the chance to have our victory dance, a security guard came speeding over on his bicycle screaming at us and flashing his flashlights at us.”
|
Gamkaew Lourakmanee
23, party organizer
“I went to Big Mountain with a pack of friends. Drinking beer in the winter is so nice. Eventually, a whole bunch of us, me included, just passed out. But it’s all good, I had seen the headliners so many times before. I’m so going back again this year, too!”
|
Sirapop Wangkiat
23, marketing communicator
“Last winter we decided Chiang Mai was the place to go. It was all good until I jumped on my friend’s motorbike, rode it out and got hit by a pick-up truck. I didn’t die but I broke my ankle. I still made it to Monkey Bar in a splint, though, and many people came up to say hi. This year I’m going to Phuket.”
|
