Dak R'Mang - the shadow play and Bunraku style puppetry - presents a traditional, Thai ethnic wedding from the perspective of children in the Thai migrant community in Dak R’Mang, Vietnam.
The residency and co-authoring program
The program was organized by the group, Pioneers for the Voice of Ethnic Minorities, together with the Institute for Studies of Society, Economy and Environment (iSEE). Artists, creators, individuals who are interested in the cultural diversity of the Vietnamese nation were invited to stay in ethnic minority people's home. During the 30 days of May, 2017, they breathed the very same air and exchanged personal stories and viewpoints to create this collection.
Linh Valerie Pham
Linh Valerie Pham is a theatre and puppetry artist based in Vietnam and alumna of Sarah Lawrence College. Her work has been showcased at the Oriental Gallery, Vincom Center for Contemporary Arts (Hanoi); Soul Live Project (HCM City); Brick Theatre, CPR-Center for Performance Research & HERE Arts Center (New York). Linh also works as a teacher and facilitator, conducting movement-based, puppetry and creative writing workshops. She is the founder of Mat Tran Ensemble, a local theatre group that focuses on creating inclusive arts.
Inspiration
The Thai children in Dak R’Mang of parents who migrated from Thanh Hoa (North Central Coast of Vietnam) only know about their homeland and traditional practices through their parents’ stories. Therefore, this shadow play and puppetry work was the first time they narrated for a public how they imagined their parents’ traditional wedding looked and happened.
The screen of the play was the representation of their homeland with paddy fields and Thai traditional stilt houses.
The screen of the play (2017-06-16) by Pham Trang My Linh, Le Xuan Phong, Nguyen Vu Hai, Lo Thi Ha, Ha Thi My Hang, Vi Thi Theu and children in Dak R’MangThe Institute for Studies of Society, Economy and Environment (iSEE)
Children first drew by themselves according to their imagination and adults then helped to complete it with more details of the land they had grown up.
Dak R'Mang (2017-06-16) by Pham Trang My Linh, Le Xuan Phong, Nguyen Vu Hai, Lo Thi Ha, Ha Thi My Hang, Vi Thi Theu and children in Dak R’MangThe Institute for Studies of Society, Economy and Environment (iSEE)
The narrator of the play is an old woman who wears a traditional scarf (khan pieu), which symbolizes the grandparents’ generation.
Preparations for the play (2017-06-16) by Pham Trang My Linh, Le Xuan Phong, Nguyen Vu Hai, Lo Thi Ha, Ha Thi My Hang, Vi Thi Theu and children in Dak R’MangThe Institute for Studies of Society, Economy and Environment (iSEE)
Dak R'Mang (2017-06-16) by Pham Trang My Linh, Le Xuan Phong, Nguyen Vu Hai, Lo Thi Ha, Ha Thi My Hang, Vi Thi Theu and children in Dak R’MangThe Institute for Studies of Society, Economy and Environment (iSEE)
The two central characters are a young woman and a young man.
Dak R'Mang (2017-06-16) by Pham Trang My Linh, Le Xuan Phong, Nguyen Vu Hai, Lo Thi Ha, Ha Thi My Hang, Vi Thi Theu and children in Dak R’MangThe Institute for Studies of Society, Economy and Environment (iSEE)
An old man in the groom’s family carries a water dipper made of coconut shell or gourd.
Dak R'Mang (2017-06-16) by Pham Trang My Linh, Le Xuan Phong, Nguyen Vu Hai, Lo Thi Ha, Ha Thi My Hang, Vi Thi Theu and children in Dak R’MangThe Institute for Studies of Society, Economy and Environment (iSEE)
The shadow play performance (2017-06-16) by Pham Trang My Linh, Le Xuan Phong, Nguyen Vu Hai, Lo Thi Ha, Ha Thi My Hang, Vi Thi Theu and children in Dak R’MangThe Institute for Studies of Society, Economy and Environment (iSEE)
The story begins
The young woman meets the young man while going out to the fields – her daily routine. Then, they fall in love with each other.
Dak R'Mang (2017-06-16) by Pham Trang My Linh, Le Xuan Phong, Nguyen Vu Hai, Lo Thi Ha, Ha Thi My Hang, Vi Thi Theu and children in Dak R’MangThe Institute for Studies of Society, Economy and Environment (iSEE)
On the left is the groom’s stilt house, and on the right is the bride’s house. A marriage soon takes place to celebrate love of the young couple.
The shadow play performance (2017-06-16) by Pham Trang My Linh, Le Xuan Phong, Nguyen Vu Hai, Lo Thi Ha, Ha Thi My Hang, Vi Thi Theu and children in Dak R’MangThe Institute for Studies of Society, Economy and Environment (iSEE)
A procession including the groom’s family members goes to the bride’s house to ask permission to receive the bride.
The shadow play performance (2017-06-16) by Pham Trang My Linh, Le Xuan Phong, Nguyen Vu Hai, Lo Thi Ha, Ha Thi My Hang, Vi Thi Theu and children in Dak R’MangThe Institute for Studies of Society, Economy and Environment (iSEE)
Old people in the groom’s family lead the procession, followed by people carrying a pig and other offerings.
The shadow play performance (2017-06-16) by Pham Trang My Linh, Le Xuan Phong, Nguyen Vu Hai, Lo Thi Ha, Ha Thi My Hang, Vi Thi Theu and children in Dak R’MangThe Institute for Studies of Society, Economy and Environment (iSEE)
An old man in the groom’s family carries a water dipper made of coconut shell or gourd, which is used to wash foot of the groom and the bride. Thai people believe that the practice will help the couple get rid of bad luck to be lucky, happy and successful in the future.
The procession eventually brings the bride to the groom’s house, as portrayed by articulated cut-out figures in the dim light of the lantern.
The shadow play performance (2017-06-16) by Pham Trang My Linh, Le Xuan Phong, Nguyen Vu Hai, Lo Thi Ha, Ha Thi My Hang, Vi Thi Theu and children in Dak R’MangThe Institute for Studies of Society, Economy and Environment (iSEE)
The children tell the story from behind the screen.
Connecting generations
The shadow play and puppet show was performed by children, pulling audience into the mythical world of their grandparents’ stories.
Preparations for the play (2017-06-16) by Pham Trang My Linh, Le Xuan Phong, Nguyen Vu Hai, Lo Thi Ha, Ha Thi My Hang, Vi Thi Theu and children in Dak R’MangThe Institute for Studies of Society, Economy and Environment (iSEE)
The team worked together, exchanged ideas, and breathed the same air.
Preparations for the play (2017-06-16) by Pham Trang My Linh, Le Xuan Phong, Nguyen Vu Hai, Lo Thi Ha, Ha Thi My Hang, Vi Thi Theu and children in Dak R’MangThe Institute for Studies of Society, Economy and Environment (iSEE)
Preparations for the show.
Co-organizer: “The Pioneers for the voice of Ethnic Minorities” group.
Authors: Pham Trang My Linh and Thai ethnic people in Dak R’Mang
with the support of Nguyen Vu Hai and Le Xuan Phong.
