TERA เถระ (TERA Tera)
Based on The Cat Who Went to Heaven(1930), a children’s book by Elizabeth Coatsworth, this play follows a painter named Shigeru Okamoto and his elderly housekeeper Kae Yamada as they travel across time and space, from early postwar Japan 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. The original performance was held at Wat Pha Lat temple located in Doi Suthep National Park in Chiang Mai. In this precinct in the mountains, the performers led the audience from outside the gate toward the main building.
Performance
TERA เถระ (TERA Tera)
Director: Narumol Thammapruksa
Performance: Sonoko Prow, Kram Thum
Music: Great Lekakul, Torpong Samerjai
Dramaturg: Dr. Somwang Kaewsufong, Kram Thum
Technical staff: Paanchanasak Nithivechakul
Stage management: August Selke
Translation: Dyah Ayu Kusumawardhani
English editing: August Selke
[Overview]
Venue: Selasar Sunaryo Art Space - Amphitheater + Bale Handap
Time and Dates:
20:30-22:00, January 19, 2024
16:00-17:30, January 20, 2024 *Followed by a talk-back session (until 18:00)
Language: Thai, English with Indonesian subtitles
Artists
Narumol Thammapruksa (Kop)
Sonoko Prow
Kram Thum (Gig)
Great Lekakul
Torpong Samerjai