Preserving history, from the stage
To mark Thai Heritage Conservation Day, which was on Sunday, the Office of Performing Arts under the Fine Arts Department presents a week of cultural performances to be staged at 5pm until Saturday. The venue is the National Museum Bangkok on Na Phra That Road.
All performances will be played by artists from the Fine Arts Department, with Pakorn Pornpisut as guest artist on select shows. They are related to the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej and deliver moral insight to the audience.
The programme includes the stage play Phra Mahajanaka, an adaptation of King Bhumibol’s literary work of the same title. It will be performed today. Tomorrow will see a classical concert featuring music in remembrance of the late monarch performed by the National Symphony Orchestra.
Scheduled for Thursday is an episode of the epic historical fiction Phu Chana Sib Tid (The Conqueror of Ten Directions). Then, three of the 13 chapters from Vessantara Jataka, a Buddhist folk tale about the life of Phra Vessantara (the last life of the Buddha before he attained enlightenment), will be staged on Friday. The three chapters focus on Brahmin Jujaka, the royal children and Princess Maddi.
The last day will feature three different shows — a classic concert again by the National Symphony Orchestra, a khon performance of Ramakien and a stage play based on the classic novel Phra Kiattirot, written by King Rama VI.
There is no admission fee to any of the shows. For reservations, call 02-224-1342.