ONE OF MOST popular events on the Bangkok arts calendar, the Royal Khon Performance returns this November and this year will be staging the “The Allegiance of Pipek” episode from the Ramayana epic.

As the name implies, it is centred on Pipek, an astrologer and the younger brother of the demon king Thotsakan, who predicts that Thotsakan will bring disaster to the clan. He turns his back on his brother and pledges allegiance to Phra Ram, providing valuable information that helps Phra Ram defeat Thotsakan.

For students at dramatic arts schools around the country, the Royal Khon production is the ultimate goal, and they practise constantly in the hope they will be selected for the show. This year, the national auditions drew a record 772 students, of which 26 aged between 16 and 23 have been selected to play the five main characters – Lakhon Phra, Lakhon Nang, Khon Phra, Khon Yak (demon), and Khon Ling (monkey).

Thanpuying Charungjit Teekara, Her Majesty the Queen’s private secretary and executive producer of the performance, was delighted both with the turn out and the quality of the young performers.

“For more than six years, we’ve offered an opportunity to Thai youths who love this traditional masked dance and this year we had almost 800 students in the preliminary round. We could see very clearly that each contestant was equipped with great gifts and talent, reflecting their hard work and dedication during the preparation for this audition”,” she explains.

“The audition is separated into five groups. We had 73 contestants for Khon Phra, 198 for Lakorn Phra, 204 for Lakorn Nang, 137 for Khon Demon and 160 for Khon Monkey. As usual, we chose five performers for each role though as Khon Yak has equal marks, we have added one more student to the Royal Khon Performance this year,” adds assistant producer ML Piyapas Bhirombhakdi.

“Participation was huge and we are lucky to have so many students at dramatic art institutes and colleges across the country who are committed to our national heritage.”

Artistic director Pramet Boonyachai explains that several criteria come into play in selecting performers for the roles. “For Khon Phra, Khon Demon, and Khon Monkey, we look strong moves, dance, understanding of the script and the music as well as the battle scene while for Lakorn Phra and Lakorn Nang, the focus is more on beautiful moves. The judges also pay attention to the overall performance of the contestants to see whether they match the roles.

“It is very obvious that several students who did not qualify in previous years had worked very hard to prepare for this year’s audition. Those who made the cut will benefit from being trained by leading artists and well as from performing on the big stage,” he says.

Joining Pramet on the judging panel were Thanpuying Charungjit, ML Piyapas, Dr Anucha Thirakanont, National Artists Prasit Pinkaow, Jatuphorn Rattanavaraha and Pisamai Wilaisak, Yutthana Lorphanpaiboon and Ornapa Kritsadee.

– “The Royal Khon Performance: Episode of The Allegiance of Pipek” will be staged at the Thailand Cultural Centre from November 5 to December 5.

– Tickets costing from Bt620 to Bt1,280 (students Bt120) go on sale from August 1 at all branches of Thai Ticket Major and online at http://www.ThaiTicketMajor.com.

– Find out more at http://www.KhonPerformance.com.