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About Khon

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Pichet Klunchun and Jerome Bel

Cultural Centre Studio Theatre

Reviewed: Nov 21

About Khon is the second show devised by French choreographer Jerome Bel and Thai classical dance artist Pichet Klunchun to explore the world of the classical Thai dance form khon and how it contrasts with western dance. The title turns out to be quite literal, as the evening feels more like an educational session than a performance.

Khon started 200 years ago as a court entertainment based on the religious epic the Ramakien - the Thai version of the Indian Ramayana. Performed by masked dancers using formal movements to represent actions or emotions while a narrator chants their lines, a complete khon staging can take seven days to complete. Khon's popularity has declined as younger Thais lack patience with its slow pace. Fearing that the art form has lost its relevance outside tourist venues, Klunchun is seeking to revitalise it.

For most of its 90 minutes, the programme consists of Bel asking and Klunchun answering questions about the art form. There are fascinating moments where Klunchun (below) demonstrates movements and explains their meaning, such as conveying that a character has died by having him walk across the stage in floating slow motion (showing death in a more direct manner is considered unlucky). Much information is imparted in an entertaining way, but it does not develop into a profound dialogue on eastern and western dance.

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