Dance, Drama, and Theater in Thailand: The Process of Development and Modernization

by Mattani Mojdara Rutnin

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Revised edition

Thai classical dance and dance-drama have been integral parts of Thai culture from the beginning of its history to the present day. They flourished and evolved throughout the Sukhothai, Ayutthaya, and Ratanakosin periods under royal patronage, and since 1932, under the constitutional government. The creative innovations and experiments in classical dance-drama that were begun during the reign of King Chulalongkorn, Rama V, continue to influence the works of dramatists today. Dance, Drama, and Theatre in Thailand presents comprehensively the development of Thai performing arts throughout their long history, and explores their meaning and life force, an understanding of which still lives creatively within the bloodstream of Thai people today. The book also explores how classical dance and dancedrama have intertwined with political, economic, and social factors to create a fantastic, multicolored tapestry of Thai cultural heritage. A total of sixty-three photos, including many from rare collections dating back to the mid-nineteenth century, vividly depict the atmosphere, the festivity, and sometimes the grandeur produced by dance and dance-drama in Thailand.

Highlights

Explores the rich history of Thai classical dance and dance-drama, its relationship with the Thai royal family, and the role of dance troupes
Describes the various forms of classical dance existing in Thailand
Features dozens of detailed photographs, some dating back to the early 20th centure
Includes a detailed index and glossary

About the Author

Mattani Mojdara Rutnin is a former professor of drama and literature at Thammasat University, Bangkok, and holds a Ph.D. in Thai dramatic literature from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. She was trained in Thai classical dance, Western ballet, and modern dance from childhood, and continued her training in acting and directing at such organizations as the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (London), BBC (London), and the Yale Drama School. She has published widely in both English and Thai on the history of Thai dance and theatre, and has produced translations and adaptations of Western plays, such as A Streetcar Named Desire, Macbeth, and The Threepenny Opera. She also wrote the original TV script, Saga of the Two Kingdoms, for NHK, Japan.