The most traditional from of Thai entertainment is dance drama,
performances of which are staged at Bangkok’s National Theatre while
excerpts, along with folk dance forms, are featured in the cultural
shows offered by various Thai restaurants.
The major style of
dance is
Khon, a masked drama in which the performers, all
gorgeously costumed, use graceful, sinuous body and hand movements
to express both emotions and actions in the telling of the Rammakian,
amoral epic. Classical Thai music accompanies the mute performances,
which in their kaleidoscope of color and movement present an
unforgettable spectacle.
Other classic entertainments are shadow and string puppet shows,
with the main showcase for puppets being the Joe Louis Theatre at
Suan Lum Night Bazaar on Wiress Road (Vitayu Road)
The principle venue for concerts, ballets and other performances, by
Asian and western companies of international renown, is the Thailand
Cultural Center. Additionally, leading Bangkok hotels quite often
host theatre dinner shows staged by international performers, Nor is
modern and experimental drama overlooked and while these are not
regular offerings, there are frequent performances by various drama
companies such as the Patravadi Theatre.
Bangkok further boasts a vibrant modern are scene, and numerous
Bangkok galleries have constantly changing exhibitions of leading
and up-and-coming contemporary Thai and other Southeast Asia
artists.
For popular music, many bars and cocktail lounges have live band,
and in Bangkok jazz is especially popular, one of the top venues
being the Bamboo Bar at Oriental Hotel. As for movies, Bangkok has a
host of excellent modern cinema complexes screening the latest Thai
and Western box office hits.
Not to be missed is Muai Thai, a style of boxing unique to
Thailand in which combatants use elbows, knees and bare feet as well
as gloved fists. A martial art before it was a sport, Muai Thai has
a long traditional and is still surrounded by much ritual.
The fights are often fierce and furious, though the best boxers
display remarkable skills, as well as great fitness, and a good
contest is decided by application of technique rather than brute
force. Often as entertaining as the action in the ring is the
reaction of the spectators who yell and shout encouragement to the
boxers as the excitement mounts.
There are two boxing stadiums in Bangkok, Lumphini and
Ratchadamnoen, and between them they offer professional bouts every
night of the week.
