Students from the School of Art & Design, School of Arts Management, Dance & Theatre and School of Music partipated in a Nang Yai workshop that introduced them this ancient Thai shadow puppet that was first mentioned in travel documentation records by by Bishop Tachard, an envoy of Louis XIV of France, who visited Ayutthaya in 1685. In the workshops conducted by Dr Paphutsorn Wongratanapitak from Kansadaeng Watthanatham, Thailand, students had the opportunity to learn not only the history of this traditional art form of puppet theatre performed to royalty narrating stories derived mainly from the Ramakien, but also the craft in making a life-sized Nang Yai puppet.
While their peers were involved in the Nang Yai workshops, 20 Year 3 students from the Diploma of Dance embarked on a week-long dance workshop, with dance principals from Thai Dance Society, Singapore as well as Dr Paphutsorn Wongratanpitak. These students spent the week learning Ram Sat Chatri, a dance inspired by Lakhon Chatri, the folk dance-drama made popular during the Ayutthaya period. The dance workshop ended with a performance outcome attended virtually by staff and students of NAFA.
