Technology comes to the rescue of a dying performance art

Among the traditional Thai performance arts, puppetry is probably one of the most underrated and undernourished. While khon (masked play), nang ta lung (shadow play), likay (folk theatre) and others have been diligently preserved and promoted, the once-popular puppet performance, especially traditional folk performance, is often overlooked, making the dying art even more endangered without the proper bearers to pass it on.

However, the preservation effort headed by a researcher from the Institute of Thai Studies has found a way to extend the live puppet performance with the simple yet effective use of technology.

According to Dr. Ratchaneekorn Ratchatakorntrakoon, Ph.D, expert researcher at the Institute of Thai Studies, Chulalongkorn University, who has been studying the sustainability of puppet performance in Phetchaburi, the biggest challenge in the preservation of the performance lies in its strictly oral approach that means the art is taught verbally with no written account whatsoever.

Dr. Ratchaneekorn Ratchatakorntrakoon, Ph.D, expert researcher of Institute of Thai Studies (right)

Moreover, the teacher or “kru” of the art is considered a highly revered position, and one has to be anointed by the previous teacher to assume the role.

“To become the new kru of the troupe, you have to be officially appointed and blessed by your own kru which makes the already restricted training process even more limited,” Dr. Ratchaneekorn said. “Puppet performance is considered a folk performance art and, to a lot of people, it’s not as refined as khon or traditional Thai dance, yet it requires extensive training to deliver a professional performance.

Unlike puppet shows in our neighbouring countries where performers only move the puppets, Thai folk puppet performers also have to sing and improvise when needed. Not only that, they have to memorise all the lines and the plots, and must also be able to breathe life into the puppets, narrate the story and sing well. It takes time and dedication to groom someone to be a puppeteer.”

For her study, Dr. Ratchaneekorn chose the Four Sisters Puppet Troupe (darunee si pi nong), one of the very few folk performance troupes that are still active. Based in Baan Laad district of Phetchaburi province, they have been around for more than 50 years. The troupe is now led by Khun Yai Pranom (Pranom Intaranate), the only remaining founder who acts as custodian and not a kru as she has never been officially blessed by her trainer.

Now in her golden years and with pressing health issues, Khun Yai Pranom gave more than a dozen puppets in her possession to Duangrat Pansri, another local performer with a background in theatre to further safeguard her legacy.

“Can Duangrat learn puppet performance? Yes, but maybe not comprehensively as Khun Yai Pranom can only perform for her to observe, copy and learn to do it herself. It’s not exactly teaching and training because it would feel wrong for Khun Yai Pranom. It may sound superstitious and even absurd to we modern people, but that’s the deep-rooted belief system that comes with a lot of traditional Thai performance art.

We have to find a diplomatic intervention to continue this legacy without being disrespectful to the bearer of the art.” Dr. Ratchaneekorn explained.

Dr. Ratchaneekorn believes that this type of performance art cannot rely upon its preservation by being just passed from one performer to another and believes the general public should have wider access to the knowledge. One way to keep records and publicize this dwindling art form is to create video clips of Khun Yai Pranom and the troupe as they perform and post them on the institute’s YouTube channel.

“We’re now in the process of filming and editing the clips. This should be another solution to promote the art among interested performers, and an option for the audience to enjoy puppet performances, which is becoming a rare treat. Also, we hope to expose kids and young children to this performance art, so that they can enjoy it and hopefully want to learn more about it.”