Actor Em Embraces Challenge of Large-Scale Theater Production
Actor Em Bhumipattra Thavasinsiri takes on his first major theater production at Bangkok's 1,500-seat Rachadalai Theatre, challenging himself to reach audiences far from the stage while starring alongside accomplished actress Perth Veeranit
Rising actor Em Bhumipattra Thavasinsiri is tackling his biggest challenge yet with the large-scale stage production "Once Again...The More It Hurts, The More I Remember, The More I Love." Performing at the 1,500-seat Rachadalai Theatre, Em acknowledges both his excitement and anxiety about reaching audiences seated far from the stage, marking his first major theater production.
In an interview, Em explained the scale of the challenge. "This is my first large-scale theater production. The Rachadalai Theatre seats 1,500 people, which is difficult. It's a completely different format from the smaller 200-seat venues I've worked in before. The acting techniques, directing, and stage presence all differ significantly. That's why I said yes to this project—I wanted to discover how to perform at this scale so that even people in the back row feel what the character feels."
Em will star alongside Perth Veeranithat Siraphan, an actress he admires despite never having worked with her before. "I've seen Perth's performances and watched her in the film 'Mae Soo.' I think she's an incredibly skilled actress who completely transforms into her characters, completely different from who she is in real life. She's a new generation actress who I can confidently say is very talented and deeply understands acting."
When asked about finding chemistry with Perth, Em noted their different acting approaches. "Perth has much more experience than me, especially in series and television work. She has the technique to enter and exit scenes sharply. When a character needs an emotion, she can be that immediately. I'm more like a diesel engine—I start slowly. Perth is like an electric EV car; she hits 200 and she's at 200."
Em's character is 25 years old—significantly different from the actor himself. "The character is very young and vibrant, with qualities I don't have. I'm an old, silly, overweight cat that doesn't want to play anymore. But this character is like a young, energetic Beagle puppy. We're completely different, but I have to try to become that."
When asked about the expectations that come with his reputation as a quality actor, Em was candid about the pressure. "People set their guard up. If I'm cast in a role, they expect a villain reveal later, which I've stopped doing. It spoils the surprise. There's a branding aspect to my reputation, but the downside is that people guard their expectations. It's like telling a joke—people wait for the punchline. Managing expectations is crucial to artistic impact, but setting expectations is also unavoidable for marketing.
"I'm happy when people say they watch Thai films because of me, but it also pressures me. Every time I perform, I still don't feel safe. Before every action scene, before rehearsal, I'm still nervous. The excitement never goes away—only the audience's expectations grow as I get older."
On whether he sees himself as having a full glass, Em reflected philosophically. "I think everyone's glass is both full and empty. Every time we think it's full, it becomes empty. We must constantly refill, check, and explore ourselves. I'm not someone who constantly self-examines—I wait for others to tell me. But self-awareness is most important. I try to understand what I'm feeling and what I'm thinking."
