The objectives of the study were: 1) to explore the processes of script making and contemporary Thai drama directing, which are developed from Northern Thai folksong, 2) to analyze the problems occurred, the procedures of script editing and the portrayal of contemporary Lanna dramas to the public. For the study, the researcher has created and developed a drama based on Thai Northern folksong and biographies of four Thai Northern folk music masters, which are: 1) Mae-Kru Chansom Saithara, the Thai National Artist in the field of Performing Arts (Folksong) in 1996, 2) Mae-Kru Bua-sorn Thanormbun, the Thai National Artist in the field of Performing Arts (Folksong) in 2012, 3) Mae-Kru Bua-tong Kaewphan, 4) Mae-Kru Jampa Seanprom. The drama is newly portrayed through the eyes of the protagonist, Sasiwipha Richardson, an independent Lanna woman whose path to be a Thai Northern folk music master is not all roses. The new portrayal is formed by the protagonist’s “memories” of her life, reflecting thoughts and experiences influenced by Lanna society and culture. The drama is deliberately told through the years passing by, joining social events and personal experiences together. It is, therefore, meant to be the biographies with involved factors that shape the protagonist’s life and attitudes. These factors are such as families, friends, society, news, economics, etc. The creation of this drama is a collaborative work based on idea sharing and analyzing between the researcher, the script writer and the Thai Northern folk music master. Furthermore, it is creatively created using knowledge on contemporary dramas, biographies of four Thai Northern folk music masters, Northern Thai folksong, videos and photographs. All of these elements lead to one fine and realistic drama script. It is then very convenient for the actress to perform as “a senior Thai Northern folk music master” effectively and realistically. Hence, the audiences could easily understand this particular character, resulting in constructive criticism, analysis and comparison. The audiences themselves could eventually develop new thoughts from the messages the drama intentionally displays

Credit : วนศักดิ์ ผดุงเศรษฐกิจ

https://so05.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/irdssru/article/view/214509