Tai-Lue Performance in Contemporary Thailand: Devising a Local Romayana Tale for Today's Diverse Audiences

Abstract

This paper examines how a student-led devising theatre project based on traditional Tai-Lue stories, dance and music enhanced their moral awareness through engagement with Tai-Lue communities and their culture. Bangkok university students and local Lue musicians mixed moral situations found in parts of Lanka Sip Ho, a local version of the Ramayana, with a legend of the first Lue couple, to highlight moral problems that they themselves and their friends faced. Working with contemporary artists and Lue musicians, the students enhanced the script with music and dance, and performed the piece for rural Lue audiences as well as young urban people. Their work showed how by using moral choice they could develop self-confidence as well as introduce actors and audiences to ethical ideas.