Bangkok has many traditional dance and theater groups, which perform around the city, although nowadays they are more popular with tourists than locals, who have generally embraced Western imports. The city does have its own orchestra, the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra. Western plays, with famous actors from Britain and America, are often put on for short seasons at some of the international hotels.
Both Thai and international cultural performances, including classical music, dance, ballet and pop concerts, are frequently held in the
Thailand Cultural Center, Ratchadaphisek Road (tel:
(02) 247 0028; website:
www.culture.go.th), the
National Theater, Rachini Road (tel: (02) 224 1342), and
Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, New Ratchadaphisek Road (tel: (02) 229 3000; website:
www.qsncc.co.th). Tickets can be obtained in advance from the venues or from
Thai Ticketmajor (tel: (02) 262 3456; website:
www.thaiticketmajor.com). A good what's on website is
www.bangkokconcerts.org.
Music and Dance: Sala Rim Naam (tel: (02) 437 6211) is owned by The Oriental Hotel and is located on the opposite bank of the Chao Phraya River, next to the Peninsula Hotel. The nightly traditional music and dance show starts at 2030, preceded by dinner at 1900. Although there are numerous traditional shows daily throughout the city, this one, reputed to be the best in Thailand and beautifully located in a traditional teak pavilion-style restaurant, is unmissable. Thai classical performing arts take place at the
Patravadi Theater (tel: (02) 412 7287; website;
www.patravaditheater.com) on Soi Wat Rakhang.
Siam Niramit, on Tiamruammit Road,
is a lavish music and dance spectacular which is often sold out (tel: (02) 649 9222; website:
www.siamniramit.com).
The Bangkok Symphony Orchestra (tel: (02) 255 6617; website:
www.bangkoksymphony.net) performs in the
Thailand Cultural Center (see above) and other venues around Bangkok. Bangkok Opera (tel: (02) 663 3236
or 661 4688 for tickets; website:
www.bangkokopera.org) also performs at the center.
Theater: Classical dramas are very colorful and expressive and these are held on the last Friday and Saturday of each month at the
National Theater (see above). The
Joe Louis Puppet Theater, by the Suan Lum Night Bazaar (tel: (02) 252 9683; website:
www.thaipuppet.com/core) depicts the story of the Ramakien in a fun and colorful way with large puppets which need three people to work them. The
Chalerm Krung Royal Theater, on Charoen Krung (New Road) (tel: (02) 222 0434; website:
www.salachalermkrung.com), has regular performances of plays and musical dance dramas. For those fascinated by the infamous ‘ladyboys' or
katoeys of Bangkok, there are two performances each night at the Calypso Cabaret in the
Asia Hotel on Phayathai Road (tel: (02) 653 3960; website:
www.calypsocabaret.com), which are always packed out.
Film: Bangkok has a large number of cinemas but not all show English-language films. Some show movies with English soundtracks but many will have been dubbed into Thai. Cinemas that show films in English or with English subtitles include:
EGV Multiplexes and
Major Cineplexes (both Movie Line tel: (02) 515 5555; website:
www.majorcineplex.com), both with various venues throughout the city;
Lido Multiplex, Rama I Road (tel: (02) 252 6498), and
Krungsri Imax (Movie Line tel: (02) 515 5555; website:
www.imaxthai.com) located in the Siam Paragon Mall.
Nineteenth-century Bangkok features in the spectacular film
Anna and the King (1999). The filming did not take place in the city as the Thais banned the book on which it was based (see
Literary Notes below), as well as the earlier film, starring Yul Brynner, claiming that they were historically inaccurate. The James Bond movie,
The Man with the Golden Gun (1974) uses Bangkok, as well as the stunning Phang Nha Bay, as a backdrop.
A 2001 epic
Suriyothai (directed by Prince Chatrichalerm Yukol) depicts life in the Ayutthaya period of Thai history and the story of the heroic Queen Suriyothai, with some incredible battle scenes. Thai director Pen-Ek Ratanaruang is one of Asia's bright new hopes. His film
Last Life in the Universe (2003) about a romance between a suicidal Japanese man and a Thai prostitute in Bangkok has gained critical acclaim. In 2006 he directed
Digital Sam in Sam Saek 2006: Talk to Her and
Invisible Waves.
Some of the scenes from the very successful
Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004), directed by Beeban Kidron, were filmed around Soi Cowboy in Bangkok as well as the 2008 remake of
Bangkok Dangerous directed by the Pang brothers.
Literary Notes: A prolific writer of the darker side of expat life is Christopher G Moore who often uses Bangkok as a backdrop. Particularly well known are
Spirit House (1992) and
Asia Hand (1993), the first two books in a series of seven titles featuring the private eye Vincent Calvino. The latest one,
Minor Wife, was published in 2002. Jake Needham's novel,
The Big Mango (1999), depicts the story of an ex-GI returning to Bangkok in search of money stolen from a Vietnamese bank.
The Beach, by Alex Garland (1997) is also a good read for anyone heading to Thailand, and his depiction of the backpacker scene in Bangkok is particularly accurate. Dean Barrett's 2003
Skytrain to Murder is a murder mystery set in Bangkok.
The King and I (1956) is probably the most famous film about Bangkok and the royal court. The film is based on the book
Anna and the King of Siam (1944) by Margaret Landon, which itself is a novel adapted from
The English Governess at the Siamese Court, the memoirs of Anna Leonowens, recounting her period as a governess in the court of King Mongkut. A more historically accurate account of the time can be found in
The Kingdom and the People of Siam (1857) by Sir John Bowring, who was responsible for negotiating the treaty with King Mongkut.
Still based around the royal family,
The Bangkok Secret (1990) by Anthony Grey investigates the mystery surrounding the murder of King Ananda in Bangkok in 1946 - an event that is often glossed over and the identity of the assailant is still unknown. One of the best-known residents of Bangkok was Jim Thompson, who was responsible for building a major industry (silk) and whose home is a Bangkok landmark (see
Key Attractions). He mysteriously vanished in Malaysia in 1967 and William Warren wrote a book about his life and disappearance called
Jim Thompson: The Legendary American of Thailand (1976).
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The Columbus World Travel Guide has been published for 26 years and is sold in over 90 countries worldwide.
Word Travels is a comprehensive travel guide covering hundreds of cities and holiday resorts in more than 125 countries.
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