River City Bangkok and AORTA Make History 

with Thailand's First Rooftop Theater Production

Please join us as we cordially invite you to the exclusive preview of 

“before 2475 Restage”on Thursday 7 November 2024, 8.00 PM 

at RCB Rooftop, 5th floor, River City Bangkok

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.

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.

In ‘before 2475 Restage’ viewers will be taken on a journey back in time to question and rediscover the dreams of Siam. The play explores pivotal moments in the nation’s history, while past voices from Siam echo across the stage, reflecting the future that now bends along the river’s curve in the year 2024.  

As the sun sets, hope will be reignited.

The play unfolds in the days before a great political transformation, taking the audience back to hushed conversations in Parisian cafés, quiet hopes along the cobbled streets of the Quartier Latin, and pivotal meetings in ‘Apartment No. 9’. It was there, in Paris, that seven young men in their twenties began to shape a dream, exchanging ideas about boundless possibilities. 

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.

The theatrical performance “before 2475 Restage”, a 120-minute performative play with English subtitles, will be showcased in 9 performances across three weekends: November 8-10, 15-17, and 22-24, 2024. The curtain rises at 7.30 PM on the atmospheric RCB Rooftop, located on the 5th floor of River City Bangkok.

Seating is divided into three sections: Zone A (with tickets priced at 2,475 THB) and Zone B (with tickets priced at 1,500 THB) offer a unique experience as it is situated directly on the helipad. On the other hand, Zone C (with tickets priced at 900 THB) offers tiered seating in the open-air amphitheater on the rooftop. 

Audiences can purchase tickets for ‘before 2475 Restage’ in all three seating zones starting from September 20, 2024, through Ticketmelon at Ticketmelon: ticketmelon.com/rivercitybangkok/before2475

Director’s Statement

Aim-ei Polpitak 

Director-Writer

The Siamese Revolution of 1932 stands as a pivotal moment in Siamese society, making the first—and only—victory of the common people in Thai history. Yet, this event is seldom remembered or portrayed in such a light. 

Ninety-nine years have passed since the first spark of change was ignited in the hearts of seven students in Paris. 

Ninety-two years have passed since that fateful morning when the People’s Party manifesto rained down on Ratchadamnoen Avenue.

And yet, the problems we face today—economic, social, and ideological—have changed very little. Time flows toward another century, and Thailand still struggles to fulfill the aspirations of that earlier generation.

With this play, we wish to look back in time, to trace the identities of these young revolutionaries, exploring the era in which the world was in flux. Through the relationships and friendships of the seven characters, we hope to understand why they felt compelled to stand up and change their country.

The subject of the 1932 revolution is inherently exciting to us. In other societies, stories like this would have been retold countless times, used as powerful material to instill democratic ideals in younger generations, They would inspire with the example of ordinary people who dared to pursue their dreams. Yet, in Thailand, these stories are only briefly touched upon in the curriculum.

Aim-ei Polpitak, writer and Director of “Could Cuckoo Country” (2022) and “The Saddest Princess on Planet No. 4: The Staged Reading” (2023), revisits the seven key figures who formed the original core of the People’s Party in Paris, retelling their story with a blend of coming-of-age narrative and comedic drama.

At the time, they were only 24 - 27 years old, still viewing their goals as dreams, full of ideas. Their identities had yet to solidify into historical fact, and their lives were still revolving around infinite possibilities.

Today, that historic event is often harshly critiqued from one extreme or the other. But whether you see it as a force for good or ill, it’s undeniable that the Siamese Revolution of 1932 is a crucial chapter in Thai history. Whether you regard these men as traitors or heroes, the revolution—sparked by the vision of ordinary civilians—remains an important milestone. It is a reality that has shaped our society.

Note: This play is a work of fiction, inspired by real historical figures and events. The dialogues and events depicted beyond those directly related to history are products of the writer’s imagination, crafted with reference to historical data and evidence from the era in which the story is set.

Cast and Crew

Director-Writer: Aim-ei Polpitak

Producer: Tamonwan Ratanapongumpai

Pridi Banomyong: Wasin Panumaporn

Plaek Khitasangkha: Teema Tadapratheep

Prayun Phamornmontri: Thitinan Rattanathitinan

Tasnai Mitphakdi: Bhuthip Sukkree

Tua Lapanukrom: Nawin Pornkulwat

Jaroon Singhaseni: Tanawich Wanasukpunt

Naeb Phahonyothin: Tanbhiti Supatwanich

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.

#before2475Restage

#AORTA

#RiverCityBangkok

#RiverCityContemporary