Phuket gears up for Heroines’ Festival 2011

PHUKET: This year’s Phuket Heroines’ Festival will feature the acting debut of Phuket governor Tri Augkaradacha, who will take center stage in the role of King Rama I in a historical drama based on the history of Thalang.

The 2011 installment of the annual event will take place March 13 to 15 at Thalang Victory Memorial Field in Thepkrasattri subdistrict.

The festival, officially entitled the Thao Thepkrasattri – Thao Srisunthorn Commemmoration Fetival 2011, is organized jointly by the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) and Phuket Cultural Office.

It is intended to increase awareness of local history and culture among Thai citizens.

“I will portray King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke (Rama I). I am honored to have been invited to take this role. I will give my best possible performance,” Gov Tri said.

Dr Sawit Pongwat, screenwriter and director of the Thalang Historical Drama production said, “This will be the first time for this drama to have a sitting governor in the cast.”

The cast comprises some 1,000 people including students, local residents and people from both the private and government sectors, he said.

The 12-act production is scheduled to run for about one-and-a-half hours.

“The scenes will be more realistic than in performances in previous years,” he promised.

“My wish is that this drama will make the audience love their nation and learn about its history at the same time,” Dr Sawit added.

Also to that effect, the Culture Office will offer historical tours of Thalang on March 8 to 10 in the run-up to the festival.

Two buses with 40 passengers each will set out from Provincial Hall at 9am to visit six important sites in the district: Thalang National Museum, Phra Nang Sang Temple, Phra Thong Temple, Baan Thao Thep, Muang Komarapaj Temple and Thalang Victory Memorial.

The tours will end back at Provincial Hall at 4pm.

Admission is free of charge. Those interested can reserve seats by calling the Culture Office at 076-223617 or 076-223654.

The following events are also to be included in the festival activities:

March 13

9:09am: Commemoration ceremony at Heroines’ Monument

8:30pm: Thai boxing competition

March 13 to 15

5pm – 6:30pm: Paramotor show

5pm – midnight: Local food and OTOP product sales

7pm – 9pm: Light and Sound Performance: Thalang Historical Drama

9pm – midnight: Thai arts and cultural performances.

Unless otherwise specified, all events will be held at Thalang Victory Memorial Field, located across from the wet market and Thalang Witthaya School on Dom Chom Tao Road (Route 4030) in Thepkrasattri subdistrict, near the intersection with Thepkrasattri Road (Route 402).

— Janpen Upatising