The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture, the Royal Thai Embassies in Rome, Lisbon, Madrid, Vienna and Brussels, and the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Frankfurt, organized a Thai Cultural Roadshow consisting of a variety of Thai dances, including Khon and exhibitions of Khon-related accessories, in Europe during 6 – 30 May 2018.To this end, a Thai dance troupe and musicians from the Fine Arts Department, Ministry of Culture, were invited to participate in the following events:

1. On 7 May 2018, the troupe performed at “Khon : Classical Siamese Dance, an event organized in celebration of the 150 Years of Diplomatic Relations between Thailand and Italy” at Teatro Argentina in Rome, in which Mr. Thani Thongphakdi, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, gave the opening remark.  This event was attended by more than 500 guests, including members of the diplomatic corps and international organizations, Italian government officials and the private sector.

2. On 8 May 2018, a cultural show was staged at San Giuseppe Orphanage in Rome, which was presided over by H.E. Mr. Tana Weskosith, the Thai Ambassador to Italy, who gave the opening remark.  The event was attended by more than 100 Italian youths and parents.

3. On 9 May 2018, the troupe performed at the Thai Food Festival at Gambero Rosso Citta Del Gusto with an attendance of more than 100 guests.

4. On 11 May 2018, the troupe staged the Khon and cultural performances at Museo do Oriente Theatre in Lisbon.  This event was organized in celebration of the 500th Anniversary of Treaty of Amity and Commerce between Thailand and Portugal.  The performance was attended by Ms. Darunee Thamapodol, Inspector General, Ministry of Culture, Mrs. Ruyaporn Sukontasap, Deputy Director-General, Department of Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and more than 300 guests.

5. During 12 – 13 May 2018, the troupe performed at Thai Festival, Belém Park in Lisbon.   Ms. Suchitra Muangnil, Chargé d'affaires a.i., delivered a welcoming remark and presided over the event with the presence of Ms. Thamapodol, Mrs. Sukontasap and representative of Belém District.  More than 10,000 people attended this 2-day event.

6. On 13 May 2018, the troupe participated in the Thai Festival “Hola Thailandia” at Arc de Triomf, organized by the Thai Friends Samakkhi Association Barcelona.  H.E. Mrs. Rattikul Chansuriya, the Thai Ambassador to Spain, gave an opening remark with more than 10,000 people in attendance, including local people, tourists, and Thais living Barcelona and neighboring cities.

7. On 16 May 2018, a Khon performance was staged and a Khon-related exhibition was displayed at Círculo de Bellas Artes theater in Madrid.  This event aimed to render homage to Her Majesty Queen Sirikit of His Majesty the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, for Her Majesty’s unwavering dedication to preserving and promoting Khon, as well as to celebrate the 300th Anniversary of the Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Navigation between the Kingdom of Siam and the Kingdom of Spain.  H.E. Mr. Vira Rojpojchanarat, Minister of Culture, graced the event with the attendance of over 600 guests, including members of the diplomatic corps and international organizations, media, students, and Thai residents in Spain.

8. On 19 May 2018, there was a Khon performance and Khon-related exhibition at the famous Schlossthester Schönbrunn Theater in Vienna. The said event was organized to honor Her Majesty Queen Sirikit for Her Majesty’s dedication to preserving and promoting Khon, as well as a “prelude” to the celebration of 150th anniversary Thai-Austrian relations in 2019.  H.E. Mr. Songsak Saicheua, Ambassador of Thailand to Austria gave the opening remark in the event with the presence of Ms. Tassachon Thepgumpanat and Ms. Suporn Ratanapong, Inspector General, Ministry of Culture.  The event was attended by over 350 persons, including members of the diplomatic corps and the international organizations in Vienna, Austrian governmental and private sectors, media, general public as well as members of the Thai community in Vienna.

9. On 22 May 2018, the troupe gave a workshop on traditional Thai dances at the Metropolitan School in Frankfurt, which was attended by 100 teachers and students. 

10. On 23 May 2018, the troupe gave a workshop on traditional Thai dances at Goethe University in Frankfurt, which was attended by over 70 people.

11. On 24 May 2018, the troupe performed at “An Enchanted Thai Evening” at the International Theater in Frankfurt, which was presided over by  Ms. Pannapha Chandraramya, Consul-General of Thailand in Frankfurt, who gave the opening remark.  The performance was attended by members of the consular corps in Frankfurt, and more than 200 guests from both the governmental and private sectors. .

12. During 26 – 27 May 2018, the troupe performed at the “Amazing Thai Weekend in Antwerp”, which was organized in celebration of the 150th anniversary of Thai-Belgium relations. On this occasion, H.E. Mr.Chaisiri Anamarn, Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, gave the opening remark with the presence of Mr. Manasvi Srisodapol, Ambassador of Thailand to Belgium, and Belgian representatives.  The event was attended by more than 15,000 people, including members of the diplomatic corps, local people, foreign tourists and members of the Thai community in Belgium.

The Cultural Roadshow 2018 in Europe was warmly received by local people, members of the diplomatic corps, governmental and private sectors, and foreign tourists.  The Ministry of Foreign Affairs sincerely hopes that the abovementioned events and activities would help further deepen the already cordial ties between Thailand and its European friends, especially at the people-to-people level.