Read our BAC review below!
River City Bangkok and AORTA Make History with Thailand's First Rooftop Theater Production.
Back to where it all started before the 2475 Siam Revolution. When they were all young, just like us.
Before the winds of change swept through Siam on June 24, 1932, a quiet storm was brewing across the globe. In Paris, in the year 1925, seven Siamese students dreamt of a revolution that would forever alter the destiny of their homeland.
Pridi, Plaek, Prayun, Naeb, Tua, Tasnai and Jaroon—though they came from different backgrounds and pursued varied fields of study—were united by a common vision. Each of them dreamed of a change that would reshape their country forever.
After a spectacular run of ten-sold out performances of the play 'before 2475’ in August 2024, the creative collective AORTA, in collaboration with River City Bangkok, is answering the public’s call by bringing the dreamers of the Seine back to Chao Phraya River with ‘before 2475 Restage’. This open-air rooftop production will mark a groundbreaking moment in Thai theater—the first of its kind in the country. Returning with an awe-inspiring production, the play will offer audiences an immersive experience, blending live jazz music, evocative set design, and a symphony of lights and sound. All this, framed by the stunning backdrop of the Chao Phraya River under the night sky, promises an unforgettable evening.
Experience ‘before 2475 Restage’, Thailand’s first rooftop theater production, brought to life by River City Bangkok in collaboration with AORTA. The show will run from November 8-10, 15-17, and 22-24, 2024, starting at 7:30 PM on the stunning RCB Rooftop, 5th floor, River City Bangkok. Tickets at Ticketmelon: ticketmelon.com/rivercitybangkok/before2475
Review: Before 2475 Restage — A New Take on a Debated Uprising
By Aina Swartz (BAC Reviewer)
“Everyone does something in vain sometimes.” — Before 2475 Restage
Following their successful run of 10 sold-out performances in August, Before 2475 is back for a second run of an additional seven performances. A collaboration between the AORTA collective and River City Bangkok, Before 2475 Restage transports the audience back to 1930s Paris on the open-air rooftop stage, when seven young Thai men dreamt of something more for their country.
Set against live jazz music and the backdrop of the Chao Phraya River, Before 2475 Restage invites the audience to open their hearts and minds to this less-explored era of Thai history, the prelude to the Siamese Revolution of 1932. Join these seven friends as they gather in le Quartier Latin, and watch as they slowly allow themselves to hope and fight for a better future back home.
Set-Design & Directing
A minimalist stage, the rooftop of River City Bangkok provides an immersive experience into the world of these pioneering leaders of the past. A fantastic cast, these young actors have great chemistry and succeed in showcasing the tension, joy, and anxiety of such uncertain times within the group dynamics. The relationship between the characters comes through not just in the script, but also in the things left unsaid, and while perhaps a little heavy on the pauses, the lack of dialogue succeeds for the most part in speaking louder than words.
The directing, especially in terms of the ensemble scenes, imbues each of the scenes with a vibrancy and spirit that emanates off the stage, infectious to the audience. Combined with the stylistically different mannerisms and portrayals of each of the actors (each fitting to their characters and beliefs), this results in a well-rounded group of characters who are a pleasure to watch on stage. And while some of the dialogue can feel a bit stilted and the voice projection can be slightly overdone, this cast is a gem of a group that manages to bring a story of meetings, letters, and political discussions to life in a way that is engaging, heartfelt, and truthful.
Actors
Wasin Panumaporn (วศิน ‘เคนจิ’ ภาณุมาภรณ์) embodies the youthful excitement and good-natured idealism of Pridi Banomyong, whose heart (like his suit) seems one size too big for his chest. Thitinan Rattanathitinan (ฐิตินันต์ ‘ตังโก้’ รัตนฐิตินันต์) also shines as Prayun Phamornmontri, bringing an air of tempered optimism to his sympathetic portrayal of an initially aimlessness soul, complete with the André Gide-esque overcoat. Nawin Pornkulwat (นวิน ‘เตอร์’ พรกุลวัฒน์) absolutely pulls off the well-composed and (initially) science-above-all-else pharmacology student (Tua Lapanukrom), who’s high-mindedness and perceived arrogance allows for an engaging friction in his scenes with the others. The rest of the cast are also a joy to watch, each individually and especially in their interactions as a whole unit.
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To some, these founding members of the People’s Party are liberators, and to others, they are traitors…
Writing
In terms of the writing, there is a good blend of the heavily philosophical and the joyfully mundane, and the show takes pains to immerse you in both the City of Lights and the hearts of the Lost Generation, who perhaps are not so lost as they seem.
A new and empathetic look at this era of Thai history, this play aims to bring a sense of nuance and understanding to a story that is only “briefly touched upon in the curriculum,” according to writer-director Aim-ei Polpitak. To some, these founding members of the People’s Party are liberators, and to others, they are traitors — instead, this play depicts them not as heroes or villains, but as a flawed but good-intentioned group of humans. Youth is an aspect of revolution that is often under-explored, but this play intentionally focuses on the everyday realities of these young men during this unfixed period of their lives. By diving deeper into what was truly a formative event in Thailand’s history, regardless of which view you take of the rebels themselves, Before 2475 contributes to the historical discourse for the better.
Special shoutout to the costume department for such character-typifying costuming in terms of color scheme and style, as well as the English subtitles team (Nattanicha Changkhiew & Apisara Leelaprasert) for their amazingly faithful and evocative translations!
Before 2475 Restage is playing for a final three times on November 22-24. English subtitles are screened during the performance.
information provided by event organizer
