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Mark your calendar for Pantomime in Bangkok, the wordless festival that pulls off something rare – a full night of theatre where nobody says a word and you still catch every beat. That silence is the whole selling point. If foreign languages usually leave you glancing down at subtitles and missing the good bits, this is the one show where none of that applies.
This year's line-up gathers seven troupes from three countries, Thailand, Japan and South Korea – across two days, August 8 and 9, each act arriving with its own style and sense of humour.
Leading it is Kojimaya Mansuke, the Japanese veteran who's performed here since the very first edition. This time he pairs with next-generation artist Ayumi, whose oddball approach sits opposite a legend 34 years her senior, and the mismatch is exactly why it works. Japan also sends Yamamoto Koyo, a professional mime working since 1989, and Sivouplait, the white-clad couple from Ueno Park known for stitching comedy and romance together.
Thai audiences get a homecoming too. Ta Nuttapol, formerly of Babymime, now performs solo as Ta Lent Show, and after more than 20 years he's quieter, sharper and more assured.
Rounding things out are the Guri Guri Girls, an accordion duo who appear between scenes to keep the room warm through the 15-minute interval. Satoco brings mime and puppetry she trained in over in Canada. And from South Korea, Ryu Sung-Gook closes the bill with precise, clean movement and storytelling that lands with real emotion.
Pantomime in Bangkok runs August 8-9 with four performances across the two days, at 1.30pm and 6pm. Each show lasts roughly 120 minutes, not counting the interval, at the Muang Thai Life Assurance Auditorium. Grab your tickets here.