Dec 23, 2020
Celebrating the National Theatre
This Doodle’s Key Themes
Today’s Doodle celebrates the Thai National Theatre, an iconic arts venue located in the country’s capital of Bangkok. The theater was inaugurated on this day in 1965 with an opening ceremony of Thai dance performed before an audience that included members of the nation’s royalty—the first of many cultural events held there in the decades since.
The National Theatre was first conceived in 1932 as a space for performing artists to share Thailand’s rich cultural heritage of music and dance with audiences. Another purpose of the theater was to provide a home for locals to exchange artistic customs with visitors from abroad to build stronger international relationships. For some three decades the theater operated out of the Fine Arts Department of the National Museum, and then in 1961 construction began on the dedicated building known today.
Since its inception, the theater has showcased various traditional Thai artforms, such as the classical dance style called khon. This one-of-a-kind performance traditionally features dancers in masks and colorful costumes and integrates varied elements like music, literature, and handicraft to portray stories from the Thai epic called the Ramakien.
The National Theatre is also home to musical events including performances by traditional big bands, and even provides a venue for educational functions like arts lectures.The venue is a lasting symbol of imagination, culture, and tradition for the people of Thailand.
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