Brocade takes a bow

When the annual Royal Khon performance comes to the stage of the Thailand Cultural Centre in early November, the superbly trained dancers won’t be the only stars. Joining them on stage is a traditional brocade cloth from Thailand’s south, Muang Nakhon brocade, which for the past several years has been showcased only in museums.

This year, the Support Foundation has charged the weavers at Nuen Thammang and Baan Trok Kae Handicraft Centres in Nakhon Si Thammarat with providing the brocade for the show’s costumes.

Her Majesty Queen Sirikit initiated the revival of grand-scale khon performances and since 2007 Thais have flocked to the annual staging of this traditional Thai art, mesmerised by the sheer beauty of the movements as well as the staging, light, sound, costumes and ornaments. Thai brocade has also been making a comeback with the help of the Support Foundation and this year the time has come for the Southern brocade to take a bow.

“Every year, the khon performances have been supported by several handicraft centres in various areas, with the costumes made by villagers who are members of these centres,” says Thanpuying Charungjit Teekara, executive producer and Her Majesty the Queen’s Deputy Private Secretary. 

“Her Majesty the Queen requested the revival of the Nakhon Si Thammarat brocade, which has been missing from daily life for more than 100 years and could only be seen at museums and the royal palace. 

“We have worked hard to develop the weaving skills of more than 40 members of Baan Thammang Handicraft Centre in Chian Yai district and Baan Trok Kae Handicraft Centre in Chu-uat district to produce these brocades. The foundation is very proud of the project as it creates jobs for the members as well as ensures that this heritage doesn’t |die out.”

Veeratham Tragoolngern-thai, who designs the costumes and ornaments for the performance, is delighted to see the brocade taking centre stage.

“Brocade is silk made with a special technique to highlight the patterns. The brocade from Nakhon Si Thammarat has been known since the Ayutthaya era, when the royal fabric was made from delicate silk to which light gold and silver silks were added. The pattern structure consists of fabric and cones following the royal pattern and was worn by people of high-rank as well as used for wrapping Buddhist scripture.”

But Muang Nakhon brocade fell out of fashion and became a victim of its own complicated production process. When the Queen set up the Baan Nuen Thammang Handicraft Foundation in 1994 as a way of generating income for villages through cotton weaving, fabric pattern creation and artificial flower making, she became aware of the demise of the treasured brocade and ordered that it be revived. 

This was achieved by bringing experts in the production of ancient Surin brocade to teach the villagers. 

“Today both Baan Nuen Thammang and Baan Trok Kae handicraft centres produce exquisite Muang Nakhon brocade and this is not only preserving an age-old art but also providing much-needed income to the villages,” Veeratham conclude says.

 

Watch it

“Khon Performance 2015: The Battle of Indrajit Episode of Prommas” will run from November 7 to December 6 at the Thailand Cultural Centre.

Tickets costing from Bt620 to Bt1,520 (students Bt120) are on sale at Thai Ticket Major outlets and online at www.ThaiTicketMajor.com .

For more information, visit www.KhonPerformance.com.