Puppet theatre dancing on strings again

The famous Joe Louis Puppet Theatre raises its curtain once again after it has been closed for eight years. This time the troupe stages at Asiatique The Riverfront on Charoen Krung Road. After performing at Suan Lum Night Bazaar for eight years, the Joe Louis Puppet Theatre was closed down in August 2010 following its huge financial burden as well as the end of its lease. Back then, the Thai audience mourned the closure of the Thai traditional puppetry that was popular, especially among international tourists. The Joe Louis Puppet Theatre won the highest accolade at the World Festival of Puppet Art, held recently in Prague. The puppet theatre was opened at Suan Lum Night Bazaar in 2002, and was graciously bestowed the name of Nattayasala Hun Lakorn Lek (Joe Louis), known in English as the Traditional Thai Puppet Theatre, by the late HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana. Mastered by the synchronised efforts of three puppeteers, each Hun Lakorn Lek puppet is famous for its ability to move and act like a human. The press conference announcing the official reopening of the Joe Louis Puppet Theatre at Asiatique was held earlier this month. The first shows in eight years feature Narasimha Avatar: The God Of Guardian and Hanuman And Suvannamaccha. The troupe claims these new performances are a mix of traditional Thai puppetry and new technology to tell a story that is related to everyday society. Narasimha Avatar: The God Of Guardian is staged from Friday until Sunday at 7.30pm. The audience, however, can book a seat for Hanuman And Suvannamaccha, which is performed from Tuesday until Thursday, also at 7.30pm. Tickets are 900 baht.

For more information, visit facebook.com/Asiatique. Thailand and facebook.com/joelouistheatre. For reservation, call 02-6883322 from 8am to 6pm.