🇹🇭 THAILEX VDO Sala Chaleum Krung: A Royal Stage for Thailand's Timeless Arts

Sala Chalermkrung (ศาลาเฉลิมกรุง), meaning 'Pavilion to Celebrate the City', is the name of Bangkok's Royal Theatre, a landmark steeped in history and cultural significance. Situated on Charoen Krung Road, the city’s oldest thoroughfare, it opened its doors on 3 July 1933. Originally conceived as a state-of-the-art movie theatre, it now hosts performances of Khon (โขน), Thailand’s classical masked dance drama. The theatre’s designation as 'Royal' stems from its funding by King Prajadhipok (ประชาธิปก), i.e. Rama VII, a monarch deeply passionate about cinema and technological innovation. Its construction was part of the 1932 celebrations, commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Chakri Dynasty and the founding of Krung Rattanakosin in 1782. Designed in the modernist style at a cost of 9 million baht, Sala Chalermkrung was a marvel of its time. It boasted cutting-edge sound and lighting systems and modern air-conditioning, a rarity in Thailand at the time. Its iconic neon sign, prominently displaying its name in Thai, was reportedly the largest in Asia, symbolizing the country’s embrace of modernity. Unlike earlier landmark buildings, which were often designed by European architects, King Prajadhipok entrusted this project to a Thai architect holding the royal title of Mom Chao (หม่อมเจ้า), ensuring the design reflected both Thai identity and contemporary trends. As a tribute to King Rama VII, the theatre features a striking adaptation of his royal seal, the Prajadhipok Saktitejana (a rack of three horizontal arrows). This emblem is incorporated into the theatre’s lobby as three interlaced rings with arrows and appears in the window lattices, where the thicker bars symbolize the arrows. Today, the Sala Chalermkrung Royal Theatre is managed by the Crown Property Bureau. From its origins as a premier cinema to its current role as a stage for Thailand's artistic heritage, it continues to stand as an attestation to the country's dedication to blending tradition with innovation.
www.thailex.in...
#bangkokroyaltheatre #ศาลาเฉลิมกรุง #salachalermkrung #โขน #royaltheatre #salachaleumkrung #yvesmasure #thailex #bangkok #thailex #khon #thailand #classicalmaskeddancedrama