Thailand

Team Thailand was formed in summer 2022 by the initiative of Narumol (Kop) Thammapruksa, a theater artist with strong ties to Japan. Other artists based in Chiang Mai, the central city of northern Thailand, subsequently joined.
The artists boldly deconstructed the original version of Tera performed in Tokyo and created TERA เถระ, an original production of their own. New elements relating to views on life and death were incorporated, such as philosophy and scripture of Thai Buddhism and Tibetan Buddhism, traditional culture, music, and myths of Northern Thailand, as well as Western philosophy, meditation, Butoh dance, and children’s literature. The performance was held at Pha Lat temple located in Doi Suthep National Park in Chiang Mai. In this precinct in the mountains, the performance proceeded while the audience, led by the performers, walked from outside the gate toward the main building.
This is the second time for TERA เถระ to stream following the initial one-night streaming event in October 2020.

How to Watch

Please purchase a ticket at Peatix (external page). A link to access the ‘Watch Stream’ page will be sent to your registered email address.

Get Tickets

*Tickets sales have ended.

Streaming Schedule

From Friday, November 19 at 12:00 p.m. to Sunday, December 26 at 11:59 p.m.
[Japan Time: GMT+9]

Program Highlights

Shigeru Okamoto, a painter, is asked to make a replica of a huge mandala by a monk. In the painting process, he gets drawn into the world depicted in the mandala. Meanwhile, an elderly housekeeper named Kae Yamada, watches him while taking care of a calico cat she brought home.
Based on The Cat Who Went to Heaven (1930), a children’s novel by Elizabeth Coatsworth, the stories of various characters travel beyond space and time, from early postwar Japan, in which Shigeru and Kae lived, to Thailand, India, and Tibet. While some elements of TERA in Japan are left intact—such as the question-and-answer session, in which the musician poses 108 questions to the audience, and Buddhist chants by the monk of the temple—the work has been wholly reenvisioned to vividly reflect the beliefs and views on life and death held by the Thai people.

Perks for Ticket Holders

Two special perks are available for ticket purchasers to further deepen your enjoyment of TERA เถระ. Viewing links will be shown on the ‘Watch Stream’ page on Peatix.

１　Live Artists’ Talk-back

A discussion session with the artists was held via Zoom Webinar. In an intimate setting, they shared behind-the-scenes stories and other bits of knowledge that will shed new light on the meaning of the work.

[Date and Time]
11/21 (Sun) 8:00 p.m. – 9:15 p.m. [Japan Time: GMT+9]

[Streaming Period]
11/22 (Mon) 12:00 p.m. – 12/26 (Sun) 11:59 p.m. [Japan Time: GMT+9]

[Artists]
TERASIA Thailand
Narumol (Kop) Thammapruksa [Director], Sonoko Prow [Actor], Great Lekakul [Music]

See artist bios

２　Video Recording of the Rehearsal of Tera (Original Production) in Tokyo

A video recording of the full run-through rehearsal of Tera’s premiere performance at Festival/Tokyo 2018 will be made available for your viewing pleasure. What did Thai artists inherit or discard from Tera in Tokyo to create their original work, TERA เถระ? We hope you can experience the journey through which TERA reincarnated into TERASIA by watching the two completely different works.

[Streaming Period]
11/19 (Fri) 12:00 p.m. – 12/26 (Sun) 11:59 p.m. [Japan Time: GMT+9]

Video provided by: Festival/Tokyo Executive Committee

Talk

TERASIA Thailand Online Roundtable

Roughly one year since the premiere performance, the Thai team reflects on the creative process of creating TERA เถระ amidst the impact of COVID-19 and the resulting changes in society. They also discuss TERA in Kyoto and what lies ahead in TERASIA’s future.

TERASIA Thailand
Narumol (Kop) Thammapruksa [Director], Sonoko Prow [Actor], Kram Thum [Actor], Great Lekakul [Music], Torpong Samerjai [Music], Supamok Silarak [Videographer]