Royal Khon Premiere Features Sida With Prince Mongkut and Prince Lop

The Arts Career Promotion Foundation presented a khon performance of the Ramakien episode Sida on Friday, September 4, 2026, at the Sanamphu Uthit Theatre, with senior government and cultural figures in attendance. The production opens with the characters of Lady Sida and two young princes, Mongkut and Lop, capturing a magical horse and riding it. When Hanuman attempts to seize the princes, they bind and mark him, leading to confrontation with Rama, Lakshman, and their allies. The confrontation becomes magical rather than violent: Mongkut's arrow becomes a garland and Rama's arrows become sweet milk cakes. When Sida arrives to find her sons, all are reunited and recognize their kinship.

The khon production runs from November 5 to December 10, 2026, at the Thailand Cultural Centre's main auditorium as a tribute to Queen Suthida on the occasion of Her Majesty's 60th birthday celebration on June 3, 2026. The Foundation's adaptation follows the classical narrative from Sida's birth as daughter of the demon king Ravana, her abandonment in infancy, her rescue and adoption by the sage Janaka, her marriage to Rama after he breaks the great bow, her loyal journey into the forest for fourteen years, her abduction by Ravana, Rama's ultimate victory, and the dramatic ordeal by fire through which Sida proves her virtue and devotion.

Beyond the elaborate spectacle performed by young dancers, audiences will enjoy traditional Thai music and singing, intricate costumes, and grand staging effects created especially for this year's major khon production. Thai society is fortunate that successive monarchs have consistently championed and supported khon performance in all its dimensions, preserving this valued national art form for future generations. Tickets are now on sale through Thai Ticket Major at 0-2262-3456 and www.thaiticketmajor.com, priced at 2,000, 1,800, 1,000, 800, and 600 baht, with student tickets at 200 baht.