The Department of Performing Arts, Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts at Khon Kaen University (KKU), has successfully blended academic expertise in arts and culture with local collaboration to produce the centerpiece performance for Sakon Nakhon’s annual Buddhist Lent festival.
Collaborating with the Institute of Language, Arts, and Culture at Sakon Nakhon Rajabhat University, KKU staged a major performance titled “Witnessing the Civilized Buddhist Dharma, The Splendor of Sakon Nakhon’s Wax Castle” during the opening ceremony of the traditional Wax Castle Procession and Longboat Racing Festival.
This initiative serves as a key component of KKU’s “Academic Service in Arts and Culture,” aimed at creating and transmitting cultural heritage and wisdom. Crucially, the project fostered a cooperative network among local schools to strengthen the creative and performance potential of youth in Thailand’s Northeastern region (Isaan).
The performance was developed through a specialized “Folk Performance Potential Development Camp,” which provided both training and stage opportunities for students from various institutions across Sakon Nakhon province. Assistant Professor Dr. Pongsatorn Yoddumnean served as the playwright and director for the production.
This year’s performance was notable for its comprehensive structure, divided into six distinct acts that interconnected the historical, religious, and lifestyle dimensions of the people of Sakon Nakhon. Responsibility for training and execution was distributed among the participating schools:
- Act 1: “Sakon Yonsueksa” (Sakon Study): Led by the Department of Performing Arts, Khon Kaen University.
- Act 2: “Narai Jaeng Waeng”: Performed by Thatnarai Witthaya School.
- Act 3: “Pha Kram Ngam Withee” (Indigo Fabric, Beautiful Way of Life): Performed by Phangkhon Witthayakhom School.
- Act 4: “Choeng Chai Muay Sakon” (Sakon Boxing Style): Performed by the Naga Playing Water Youth Group.
- Act 5: “Boon Phala Thuay Prasat” (Merit Offering to the Castle): Performed by Akat Amnuay Sueksa School.
- Act 6: “Onson Sakon Nakhon” (Awe-Inspiring Sakon Nakhon): A grand finale featuring all participating youth institutions.
Students from KKU’s Performing Arts department played a central role, acting as the core performers and narrative thread connecting all six acts. This structure enabled effective knowledge transfer and hands-on experience sharing from university students to younger participants.
This marks the second consecutive year that KKU has taken a leading role in organizing the performance through the “Folk Performance Potential Development Camp” model. The project highlights a successful template for collaboration between higher education institutions and local schools, reinforcing Khon Kaen University’s mission to serve as the academic and cultural hub of the Northeast, committed to expanding its knowledge services for societal and national development.
