Performances inspired by traditions and late King’s unique talents to be broadcast live for duration
A series of performances, many of them based on works written by HM the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, will be staged as part of the Royal Cremation tomorrow.
About 3,000 artists will take part in public performances portraying the greatness of the monarch in front of the crematorium and on three stages on the north side from 6pm on cremation day until 6am the next day, signalling the end of the official mourning period.
The performances will be broadcast live on television.
The occasion will not only feature traditional performances – which can be traced back centuries to the Ayutthaya era – but also unique new works inspired by the late King’s artistic works.
“In order to preserve our rich culture, Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn has ordered the Culture Ministry to revive all our artistic traditions to honour the late King as the Supreme Artist,” said Chaovalit Soonpranon, chairman of the performance committee for the Royal Cremation.
“His literature is being adapted into traditional Thai dance and modern ballet, while live orchestras will play his compositions.”
There will also be a special khon performance of the epic Ramayana at the ceremonial ground in front of the Royal Crematorium and the Songtham pavilion.
His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn, Princess Sirindhorn and other Royal Family members will witness the historic performance up close.
More than 300 dancers will stage the “Phra Ram Crosses Over the Ocean” and “At the Battlefield” episodes of the ancient epic and wrap their performance with the “Blessing Dance” in a tribute to the late King’s dedication to the country. The television pool will broadcast the performance live.
There will also be public performances on three open-air stages in the northern part of Sanam Luang.
The first stage, located on the northern of Sanam Luang, will feature the nang yai (great shadow play), and the Khon masked drama of the Ramakian performed by Fine Arts Department and Bunditphatthanasilpa Institute. Another royal Khon masked performance under the Support Foundation of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit will also stage episodes from the Ramayana. There will be about 1,400 performers and crew members.
Modern Nine TV, Channel 5, Nation TV, Voice TV, TNN 24, Spring News, Amarin TV, TGN Channel and PPTV will broadcast events on the stage live.
Located near the Supreme Court, the second stage will present century-old puppet shows including hun luang or the Royal String Puppet and hun krabok or hand-manipulated puppet. Hun luang features the Ramakian and the hun krabok tales from “Phra Abhai Mani” (a romantic, epic adventure by Sunthon Phu). Other drama performances include the legend of Mahajanaka, Inao (a romance with a Javanese background) and the story of Manorah. Nearly 500 performers accompanied by a live pipat, or traditional Thai orchestra, will perform on this stage.
Channel 3, TPBS, Thairath TV, News TV, Workpoints, Now26, True 4U and Parliament Channel will screen the performances live.
A live orchestra made up of almost 1,000 musicians, singers and choral singers will present a classical music concert entitled “Tha Keu Doungjai Thai Tua La” (“His Majesty is in the hearts of all Thais of the Land”) featuring music composed by the late King as well as songs written to honour him, on the third stage in front of Thammasat University. This, too, is the venue for the highly anticipated ballet “Manorah” based on the late King’s 1961 composition of the same name.
Channel 7, Channel 8, NBTV, One, GMM 25, Bright and Mono Channel will provide a live broadcast of events on stage.
