Perang Bunga: A Creative Mak Yong Performance

Abstract

Mak Yong is a shared intangible cultural heritage of Southeast Asia that is rapidly declining in Thailand, particularly its dramatic component, which has traditionally been performed in the Malay language. This language barrier has limited accessibility for Thai audiences and contributed to the gradual disappearance of the tradition. This creative research aimed to revitalize Mak Yong in Thailand through the creation of Perang Bunga, the first Mak Yong theatrical production performed entirely in the Thai language, while exploring the integration of contemporary theatre practices with traditional Mak Yong performance conventions. The study adopted a Creative Research methodology involving documentary research, interviews, and practical training with Mak Yong master artists in Thailand and Malaysia. The creative process included script development, rehearsals, performance production, expert evaluation, and public presentation. The target participants comprised eight lecturers and students in Performing Arts, six traditional folk performance artists who collaborated in the creative process, and three specialists in dance and Southern Thai folk theatre who evaluated the production. The completed work premiered at Pak Tai Design Week Festival 2025. The resulting performance preserved the essential aesthetic principles, ritual structure, and performance conventions of traditional Mak Yong, consisting of the Mengadab Rebab opening ritual, four dramatic scenes, and a closing farewell sequence with a total running time of 45 minutes. The incorporation of contemporary theatre techniques in playwriting, acting, and stage directing enhanced narrative clarity and audience engagement while maintaining the cultural identity of the original tradition. The findings suggest that producing Mak Yong in the Thai language provides an effective approach to revitalizing, transmitting, and sustaining this endangered performing art. The study also demonstrates the potential of Creative Research as a framework for conserving and reinterpreting traditional performing arts within contemporary cultural contexts.