Burma Regime’s Dramatic Art Council ordered Mon artists to put old fashion opera in their shows

Independent Mon News Agency

June 11, 2004, 2004

Burmese military regime’s Dramatic Art Council ordered to Mon dramatic performers in Mon State and Karen State to put a piece of Burmese traditional opera in their show.

“It makes us a kind of edition to our Mon dramatic performer group,” a performer said.

The regime, SPDC’s Dramatic Art Council chairperson U Thaing Kyaw ordered it to Mon dramatic performers recently.

“Our Mon dramatic performers never put an opera in the show previously and until today,” said Mr. Nai Pauk Chune a Mon performer leader. “Our audiences also do not like it. It is a kind of old fashion performance. If we show, it will attract less audience to our show and it also take time,” said Mr. Chune, who was also a famous Mon comedian.

Mon Dramatic Performance groups in both states showed only modernized performance and have a rare show such Burmese traditional opera. According to the Mon performer, there are only two Mon Dramatic Performance group put operas in their night show. .

Sike Non Chan and Mon Htaw Kyaing dramatic performance groups operas and other more than ten groups never put any of it.

In Mon Dramatic show, the performers only including the western style rock of modernized stage show for singing songs and some drama. All of dramas and stage performance are censored by the regime.

Before putting up of dramas and some performances, the Mon dramatic performance groups need to translate all their stories from Mon into Burmese language and send to State Dramatic Art Council for permission.

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