The Joe Louis Thai puppet troupe wins a world puppet competition

The Joe Louis traditional Thai small puppet troupe has won the first prize at the World Festival of Puppet Art 2006 in the Czech Republic’s capital of Prague held between June 6 and 11.

The Thai puppet troupe beat the shows from nearly 40 countries with its performance titled “The Myth of Rahoo and the Lunar Eclipse”

The championship was won when Thailand was celebrating the diamond jubilee of His Majesty the King’s ascension to the throne.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 12 June 2006

Puppeteers win 'best show' award

Once-threatened Joe Louis Puppet Theatre tops groups from 40 countries

A Thai traditional small puppet (hun lakorn lek) troupe won a best performance prize at the 10th World Festival of Puppet Art in Prague yesterday.

The festival's committee awarded the Joe Louis Puppet Theatre the "The Best Cultural Performance" award from competitors from 40 countries. The award was announced at the National Black Light Theatre.

The troupe won the prize with its performance of "The Myth of Rahoo and the Lunar Eclipse", a lively tale based on Thailand's ancient belief that a lunar eclipse is caused by a demon who swallows the moon.

"We tried our best to show Thai art and culture to the eyes of the world and this prize made us proud of what we did and also proved that our work was recognised at the international level," said Pisutr Yangkeawsot, managing director of the theatre.

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