Lakhon Khol
| Lakhon Khol | |
|---|---|
| Khmer name | ល្ខោនខោល |
| Also known as | Lkhon Khol; Lakhaon Khaol; Lakhon Khaol; Khmer Masked Theatre; Male Masked Theatre |
| Practice type | Performing art |
| Usual occasion | After Khmer New Year |
| Subjects | Dance & Theatre |
Lakhon Khol is a performing-art tradition practised in Cambodia and Khmer communities. (UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage)
Practice
Lakhon Khol is a male dance drama in which performers wear lacquer masks and enact episodes from the Reamker, the Khmer version of the Ramayana. Melodious recitation and storytelling accompany the acting, together with the traditional pin peat orchestra, elaborate costumes, and ornaments associated with classical dance. At Wat Svay Andet, performances mainly serve ritual purposes, including seeking happiness and prosperity, warding off calamities, and appealing for adequate rain. (UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage; Wikipedia)
History
The supplied inventory associates Lakhon Khol with the Angkor period and says scholars have connected it with bhani theatre, in which a reciter narrates the drama. The practice declined during war after earlier troupes were disbanded, while Wat Svay Andet and newly formed provincial and national troupes helped sustain it. Lkhon Khol Wat Svay Andet was inscribed on UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding in 2018. (UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage; Wikipedia)
Variations
Wat Svay Andet’s practice is primarily ritual and is maintained by village performers, whereas other troupes perform for entertainment, cultural promotion, ceremonies, or national events. Performances are found in communities and troupes in Kandal, Battambang, Pursat, Kampong Thom, Phnom Penh, and other named locations in the supplied text. (UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage; Wikipedia)
Communities and practitioners
The Wat Svay Andet tradition is maintained by villagers from communities around the monastery, with performers contributing labor or financial support and older generations encouraging young males to train. Other practitioners include provincial troupes, the Cambodian Youth for Lkhon Khol, the Secondary School of Fine Arts, and the Performing Arts Department of the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts. (UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage; Wikipedia)