Intharacha Puppet Theatre
Hun Krabok: A Performing Art that Tells Historical Stories to the Community
The Puppet is a performance using figures crafted to imitate humans or animals. The puppet’s head is cast from resin and painted with human-like facial features. Both arms are made of wood, while the body core is constructed from PVC tube.
Character of the puppet (2024) by Anukoon RotjanasuksomboonFaculty of Fine and Applied Arts, Chulalongkorn University
The puppet's costume is formed by fitting a fabric sleeve over its frame. Once dressed, the puppet is ready to be manipulated, imitating human-like actions and gestures.
The puppet performance Intharacha 1 (2024) by Anukoon RotjanasuksomboonFaculty of Fine and Applied Arts, Chulalongkorn University
“Intharacha Puppet Theatre”
The "Intharacha Puppet Theatre" performance combines artistic expression and historical narrative, focusing on the reign of King Intharacha and the Ayutthaya Kingdom.
The puppet performance Intharacha 4 (2024) by Anukoon RotjanasuksomboonFaculty of Fine and Applied Arts, Chulalongkorn University
The piece highlights the King’s role in organizing state governance, showing how he appointed his three sons to administer key cities - Phraek Si Racha, Phitsanulok, and Suphanburi - to strengthen frontier towns and secure Ayutthaya’s political foundation.
The puppet performance Intharacha 2 (2024) by Anukoon RotjanasuksomboonFaculty of Fine and Applied Arts, Chulalongkorn University
The work depicts Ayutthaya’s ties with China and vassal cities through maritime trade and “Jim Gong” tribute missions. These exchanges expanded trade to the Malay Peninsula and fostered links in arts, religion, and technology, including silk weaving and Sangkhalok ceramics.
โครงการนาฏกรรมหุ่น เพื่อการเรียนรู้ประวัติศาสตร์ท้องถิ่น : พระอินทราชาFaculty of Fine and Applied Arts, Chulalongkorn University
Video of the Puppet Theatre Project for Learning Local History: King Intharacha
Puppet Wai Khru Scene Behind the Theatre (2024) by Anukoon RotjanasuksomboonFaculty of Fine and Applied Arts, Chulalongkorn University
The Character of Intharacha Puppet Theatre
King Intharacha
The puppet has a white face painted with traditional linear patterns. It wears a siraphon headdress, kanok-style neck ornament, chest ornament, and necklace, with a red Indian-embroidered garment featuring gold motifs and a red hem.
Zheng He
The puppet features Chinese opera-style makeup with a white face, black mustache, and natural skin tone. It wears a ceremonial headpiece, red-wrapped topknot with headscarf, and a Chinese robe with gold-edged dragon motifs.
Chao Ai, Chao Yi, and Chao Sam (Son of King Intharacha): White-complexioned puppets with traditional linear-painted faces. They wear ceremonial headpieces, gold-embroidered neck and chest ornaments, and Indian-embroidered garments—yellow, red, and green—with a red hem.
Phraya Ban Mueang and Phraya Ram (Provincial Official): Puppets with natural skin-tone faces painted in traditional linear style. They wear high wool topknots, yellow-embroidered neck and chest ornaments, and Indian-embroidered garments in green and red, each finished with a red hem.
Sena
(Court Official): The puppet has a natural skin-tone face painted with traditional linear patterns. It wears a high wool topknot, a yellow neck ornament, and a purple toray garment with a red band along the hem.
Envoy Puppet (2024) by Anukoon RotjanasuksomboonFaculty of Fine and Applied Arts, Chulalongkorn University
Envoy
(Attendant of Zheng He): The puppet has a natural skin-tone face with traditional linear patterns. It wears a high wool topknot wrapped in red cloth, a neck ornament, and a red toray costume with a black band, holding a shield in the left hand and a sword in the right.
Soldier Puppet (2024) by Anukoon RotjanasuksomboonFaculty of Fine and Applied Arts, Chulalongkorn University
Soldier
(Attendant of Phraya Ban Mueang and Phraya Ram): The puppet has a natural skin-tone face with traditional linear patterns. It wears a high wool topknot, a neck ornament, and a costume made from Toray fabric.
Hand puppets of Ayutthaya villgers 1 (2024) by Anukoon RotjanasuksomboonFaculty of Fine and Applied Arts, Chulalongkorn University
Hand Puppets of Commoners
(Folk Singers: Father Song & Mother Song)
Puppet and puppet eyes (2024) by Anukoon RotjanasuksomboonFaculty of Fine and Applied Arts, Chulalongkorn University
These hand puppets represent Ayutthaya villagers and folk singers (Father Song & Mother Song), totaling six figures.
Their costumes vary by role and gender.
Male villagers wear shirts with a shoulder cloth and chong kraben trousers. Female villagers wear sleeveless blouses or draped sabai, paired with wrap skirts and earrings.
The puppet performance Intharacha 3 (2024) by Anukoon RotjanasuksomboonFaculty of Fine and Applied Arts, Chulalongkorn University
(Folk Singers: Father Song & Mother Song)
Project Team: Puppet Theatre for Learning Local History: King Intharacha
This project received research and innovation funding from the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT)
Project Leader: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Anukul Rotjanasuksomboon
Script: Pradit Prasatthong
Puppet Art and Performance Creation: Dr. Niwet Waewsaman and Ban Tukkatan Hun Krabok Thai
Voice and Musical: A group of professional and volunteer artists
Performers: Secondary school students from Kuruprachasan School, Sankhaburi District, Chai Nat Province
Digital Exhibition
Production Supervisor: Asst. Prof. Dr. Haisang Javanalikhikara
Photography: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Anukul Rojanasuksomboon and Dr. Niwet Waewsaman
Design: Ratchapon Taksinatam
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