Joe Luise Theater | Thailand small traditional puppets performance

TOURS & ATTRACTIONS

BANGKOK CITY

TEMPLE ATTRACTIONS

OTHER ATTRACTIONS

MUSEUM ATTRACTIONS

BANGKOK IMPRESSIVE

BANGKOK TOURS

BANGKOK CITY TOURS

FULLDAY EXCURSIONS

AYUTHAYA OVERNIGHT TOUR

PACKAGE TOURS

BK-01 BANGKOK STOPOVER

2 nights hotel & airport transfer
Price 120.- USD

BK-02 SAWASDEE BANGKOK

2 nights hotel, airport transfer and tour to visit city & temples price start from 102.- USD

BK-03 BANGKOK & AYUTHAYA

2 nights in Bangkok, and full day tours to visit Ayuthaya with cruise,
Price : 120.- USD

BK-04 FLOATING MARKET

2 nights hotel, airport transfer and tour to Floating Market,
Price : 120.- USD

BKK-05 SAFARI WORLD

2 nights hotel, airport transfer and tour to Safari World.
Price 120.- USD

BK-06 TIGER TEMPLE

2 nights hotel, airport transfer and tour to River Kwai and Tiger Temple: Price 130.- USD

Joe Luise Theater

Tradditional Thai Pupets

Sakorn Yangkhiawsod (alias "Joe Louis"), who was consecrated National Artist in 1996, has given new birth to Thai Traditional Puppetry.

Today his troupe is the only one in Thailand that still performs this wonderful and unique kind of puppet play. Hun Lakorn Lek (Traditional Thai Small Puppet) was created 100 years ago by Master Krea Sapatawanich, but suddenly disappeared after the world War II started. More than 50 years later Joe Louis (Mr. Sakorn Yangkhiawsod) received about 30 puppets from Master Krea's daughter and rediscovered this discipline after having realized its priceless value.

Now our troupe is the only and the last troupe in Thailand. We opened Joe Louis Theater in Nonthaburi in 1999 for him but all 50 puppets and his house were destroyed by a fire in the same year. Until March 2002, we met a lot of guest from many countries and now reopened the New Joe Louis Theater in Suan-Lum Night Barzaar. We would like to show this valuable art to the young generation and we hope to deepen your understanding of Thai Culture through our puppet play Hun Lakorn Lek.

The Ramayana is the epic story that originates from India. In Thailand we use this story for "Thai Mask Dance". So, Thai Mask Dance, it's a pattern of "Hun Lakorn Lek", the movement of the “Hun Lakorn Lek” seem like a Thai Mask Dance.

We have Puppet Gallery, History Exhibition, Traditional Thai Mask making Demonstration, Souvenir Counter. Before our performance, we bring you to Joe Louis Cultural Tour. We will explain and inform you about Joe Louis Theater.

Cultural Tour: 07.00 p.m. (everyday)
Show Time: 07.30 p.m. - 9.30 p.m. (everyday)

History

Thai Puppetry has been apart of Thai culture and tradition for hundreds of years. The first puppet performance was called "Hun Luang" otherwise known as Royal Puppet. It first started during the Ayutthaya period, but only during royal functions or within the royal palace were these puppets performed. Later, during the reign of King Rama 4, "Hun Lek", or Small Puppets performed Niew Jeen (Chinese Opera) and the Ramayana along with "Hun Kabok" or Stick Puppet and Hun Lakorn Lek otherwise known as Traditional Thai Small Puppets became open to the public and performed widely all around the country.

Hun Lakorn Lek is unique because of its special lifelike characteristics combining many different kinds of traditional art forms. Currently, there is only one Puppet Theater left in existence called Sakornnadtasin. The founder is Mr. Sakorn Yangkeawsot awarded National Artist of the Year for Puppetry in the year of 1996. He is directly responsible for maintaining and preserving Thai Puppetry today.

Hun Lakorn Lek is continuing its tradition by passing down its knowledge to the next generation by opening a small children puppet theater, preparing them for performance as well as to love and appreciate this old traditional art form.

Sakornnadtasin Puppet Troupe has constantly improved its performance through out the years by not limiting its act to just standard stages and backdrops allowing it to be performed in any sized area, incorporated today's social issues as well modern speech and jargon, but taking into great account not to diminish its original form. These improvements and changes has made the audience enjoy and feel apart of each performance, and helped to preserve and ensure this art form never to be lost. Sakornnadtasin Puppet Troupe is one of Thailand's oldest traditional art forms reflecting the imagination, knowledge, and creativity of the minds and spirit of Thai people and culture for future generations to come.