This Song Father Used to Sing (Three Days in May) zeroes in on a small kitchen space in Bangkok. A brother and sister live through three days there in May, each time in a different calendar year, to commemorate their deceased father in a traditional Chinese ceremony. They cook, eat, chat and joke about nothing in particular. Their retiring nature contrasts with the captivating and often absurd conversations they engage in. Past, present and future blend subtly and are connected to the political context of the Thai metropolis. The play shows life as it is, without drawing a veil over its alienating character. The characters’ statements do not serve any logic and neither do they lead to a clear end.
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Video version co-produced by Kyoto Experiment
Script: Wichaya Artamat,Jaturachai Srichanwanpen, Parnrut Kritchanchai
Director: Wichaya Artamat
Cast: Jaturachai Srichanwanpen, Parnrut Kritchanchai, Saifah Tanthana
Scenographer: Rueangrith Suntisuk
Technical Director / Lighting Designer: Pornpan Arayaveerasid
Music Video: Atikhun Adulpocatorn
Stage Manager: Pathipon Adsavamahapong
Producer: Sasapin Siriwanij
Cinematographer: Jiraphat Vinagupta
Camera Assistant1: Thanawat Pimkasemsophon
Camera Assistant2: Jessada Unnunnub
Sound Recording & Boom Operator: Chutimon Panngam
Editor & Colorist: Chaipat Eamraksa
Subtitle Editor: Kwin Bhichitkul
English Subtitle Translation: Sasapin Siriwanij, Olan Kiatsomphol
Song Credits
House music: Feng Ye Piao Piao
Song 1: Yue Liang Dai Biao Wo De Xin
Song 2: Yue Lai Xiang Song 3 – SUBARU (or Xing in Chinese)
Song 4: Tian Mi Mi
Song 5: HAHA UE SAMA (ending theme song of Japanese cartoon Ikkyū-san)
All songs performed by Studio28 (Thailand)
Special thanks to Arai Arai, B-Floor Theatre, Jirakit Soonthornlarpyod, Sliding Elbow Studio, The Open House Hostel and Cafe
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Wichaya Artamat studied film and started working in theater as a project coordinator for Bangkok Theatre Festival 2008. He joined New Theatre Society in 2009, during which he grew to become a director recognised for various experimental forms and unconventional theatrical approach. Wichaya is especially interested in exploring how the society remembers and unremembers its history through certain calendar days. He co-founded For What Theatre in 2015. He is also a member of Sudvisai Club and Collective Thai Scripts. His work “This Song Father Used to Sing (Three Days in May) is internationally acclaimed and has toured to Austria, Belgium, Norway, and presented online in Japan. It won Best Play by the International Association of Theatre Critics, Thailand Centre (IATC) in 2016, and was nominated for Best Performance by a Male Artist, Best Performance by a Female Artist, and Best Original Script awards in the same year.