Traditional Thai Puppet Theater (Joe Louis Theater)

NileGuide Expert Says:

This is an element of Thai culture that came one person short of being forgotten. Renewed interest has kept it alive but just barely. This is a commonly overlooked cultural aspect of Thailand.

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+66 2 252 9683

Description:

Joe Louis Theater is the preservation hall of the dying art of Thai puppetry. One man kept it alive with barely any public notice until Thai tourism authorities discovered the lone puppeteer Sakorn Yangkhieosot and made efforts to showcase this impressive talent. Three puppeteers dressed in black are necessary to manipulate the various limbs and facial expressions of the artfully created marionettes. Parts of the Ramayana and regional legends are performed with English subtitles projected on screens to the sides of the stage. The Joe Louis Theater is the only spot in Bangkok where you can see this live puppet show. Masks and other souvenirs can be purchased in the lobby where you can see a wax figure of the late puppeteer himself.

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