To "Nattayasala Hun La Korn Lek"

The Theater


In 1984, Sakorn set up a booth at the annual Suan Am porn Fair in Bangkok to demonstate the
ancient art of making knon Masks. He took with him to the booth the puppet the old
 hermit from the Ramakian he had made. The pupput attracted attention, and when the
 Tourism Authority of thailand discovered that this impoverished old man was the last living
person who knows the art of theatrical puppetry, it offered him money to make more
puppets and revive performances. The following year, Sakorn and his children gave a
 performance at the fair. He named the troupe 'Hun Lakorn Lek, Sakorn Natasilp Troupe:
Maestro Krae's Grandchildren's Lakorn Lek'. The revival was welcomed but there was not
enough demand for performances for it to be sustainable or viable as a liveihood.

In 1996, the Commission for Nation Culture nominated Sakron for the title of 'National Artist
(Performing Arts Category: Small Theatrical Pupperty)'. This nomination was made in the
name of  His Majesty the King, in whose name the honorific title of ' National Artist' was
bestowed. The accompanying medal was awarded by Her Royal Highness Princess
Sirinthorn, daugther of His Majesty. This recognition enabled Sakron and his children to raise
enough money to open a small puppet theatre near their home in Nontaburi province. The
theater was consecrated on 28th December 1999, and the first performance was given on
3rd January 2000. The theater was called the 'Joe Louis Theater'. The revival wasstill not
successful: the theater was rudimentary and too remote from the metropoils, and few went
to see it. In May 2002, the theater was moved to its present and more central location at
the Suan Lum Night Bazaar in Bangkok.

On 10th July 2002, Her Royal Highness Princess Sirinthorn, His Majesty's daughter, officially
opened the theatre and unveiled the plaque. On 5th December 2004, Her Royal Highness
Princess Galyani Vadhana, sister of his Majesty the King, re-named the theater ' Nattayasala
Hun Lakorn Lek' in Thai and the Traditional Thai Puppet Theater' in English. The Traditional
Thai Puppet Theater Foundation is under Her Royal Highness's patronage.

 

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