The Thailand Harmony World Puppet Festival in Kanchanaburi 2016 is going to be held during November 1-7, 2016 from 04:00 to 09:00 p.m. at Prommitr Film Studio, Tambon Ladya, Muang District, Kanchanaburi Province (the filming location of “The Legend of King Naresuan” movies) and the floating market at the 9th Infantry Division (Surasee Camp). The location is selected due to its aesthetic beauty and cultural values, and its ambience is suitable to become a tourist attraction. The spaciousness of the location makes it possible to erect a wide variety of puppet theaters to house puppeteer groups from all over the world including the Sihasasana Throne, Sanpetch Prasat, Yodia Village, Nai Gai Street, the floating market, the drum tower ground, Wat Nok temple ground, and the pier, etc. under the concept of Puppet Village. The location is considered perfect for accommodation of 38 puppeteer groups from as many as 28 countries around the world, in addition to the local Thai puppeteer groups and 20 youth puppeteer groups from overseas, including those that have recently won the awards from an international contest held in Poland, such as the Nardthaya Burapha Club from Thailand, La Gorda Azul Teatro from Argentina, Kkachidong from South Korea, Marionette Laal Kamara from Japan, Los Claveles Teatro Murcia from Spain, and Puppet Ku’s Theatre from Malaysia. All in all, it is anticipated that the audience will enjoy their walk or their tram ride all over the venue and will be mesmerized with the entertainment and tourism activities that await them.
The opening ceremony of the Thailand Harmony World Puppet Festival in Kanchanaburi 2016 will be organized on November 1, 2016, with numerous enchanting and captivating performances including a parade of international puppets, the Human Puppet Dance by the Masti-Makers from India, a royal puppet show from The Land of Arts by Surat Jongda, a grand shadow play by the Wat Baan Don Grand Shadow Play Group, the King Naresuan puppet show by Naresuan University, as well as puppet shows from Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan, Laos, and Russia, etc.
India
Russia
All through seven days of the festival, participants and visitors will get to enjoy the performances of different puppeteer groups from different parts of the world such as Jose Navarro Theatre from the United Kingdom, NaRua from Portugal, AnnaFabuli Shadow Theatre from Germany, Tblisi State Puppet Theatre from Georgia, Moving Parts Puppet Project from the United States of America, Cairo Puppet Theater from Egypt, Kystal Puppeteers from Kenya, Shadow Theatre Company from Iran, Theatre Gauchos from Japan, Sky Bird Puppet Group from Hong Kong, and Shwe Pyi Thein Ga Puppet Show from Myanmar, to name only the more renowned ones. As for Thai puppets, during the festival, there will be different types of Thai puppetry including puppets, marionettes, theatrical puppets, hand puppets, grand shadow plays, and Talung shadow plays by various renowned puppeteers. In addition to this, there will be cultural performances and local or folk performances from different communities in Kanchanaburi Province such as Thai Song Dam, Karen Pgazkoenyau, etc.
Other attractions during the festival that visitors can enjoy are a simulation of a cultural market selling food, drinks, and interesting souvenirs; a replica of the parade of the Ayudhaya army by the 9th Infantry Division, handicraft workshops of kids and adults who are interested in making different kinds of puppets, and an exhibition of memorable photographs taken during the Thailand Harmony World Puppet Festival 2014 by the Foto United Club.
Thailand Harmony World Puppet Festival in Kanchanaburi 2016 is sponsored by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Ministry of Culture, Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau, the 9th Division Infantry, Siam Paragon Shopping Center, Wizard Production Company Limited, Semathai Marionette Arts for Social Foundation, Foto United Club - Photographers’ Community, Canon Marketing (Thailand) Company Limited, and Child and Youth Media Institute. Such support ensures that participants and visitors to the festival will have an opportunity to directly gain valuable experiences from their exposure to traditional ways of life and local cultures and traditions of community members who live in a tourist attraction area.
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