Research & Article

In southern Thailand, two forms of entertainment have historically been foremost in popularity: a shadow play called nang talung and dance-drama known as manora or manora chatri. The nature and history of the latter has been the subject of confusion, in part due to the name manora itself, as well as the unfamiliarity of the Bangkok Thai with this regional entertainment. Furthermore, the manora, which traditionally adhered to the structure of a song and dance show followed by a play, was transformed greatly to compete with new entertainment. This article attempts to understand the origin and old style of this dance-drama through interviews with older manora players and previous documentation. While no concrete conclusions on its historical roots are achieved, the article preserves the living memories of traditional manora and argues for greater recognition of this valuable cultural form.