A Lakhon Bassac troupe performs in Takeo province in July. Takeo provincial fine arts department via social media
The Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts has announced the dates for the much-anticipated "National Lakhon Bassac Festival 2024" to promote and preserve traditional Khmer arts.
“The three-day event, dedicated to celebrating and preserving the rich cultural heritage of Lakhon Bassac, will be held from October 25-27, at the Department of Performing Arts in Phnom Penh,” according to the ministry’s announcement.
The festival will also be broadcast live on the ministry’s official Facebook page, ensuring that the celebration reaches a wider audience.
According to the ministry, the event seeks to uphold and promote the values of Cambodian arts, culture, national traditions and identity, as well as contributing to societal development and enhancing national prestige.
“It also aims to encourage artists specialising in Lakhon Bassac to revive their activities, thereby preserving this significant aspect of Cambodia’s cultural heritage,” said the announcement.
Artists with expertise in the discipline from various organisations and public art associations nationwide are invited to take part.
Each participating group must submit a newly recorded, unedited video of any Lakhon Bassac scene, lasting 15 to 25 minutes, along with an application form and a copy of the team captain's resume.
The video, which must adhere to the theme "A bunch of chopsticks cannot be broken", is part of the overall qualifying process, which also includes a final live performance. These components will be considered in making decisions for the winners of the competition.
The Khmer phrase the theme refers to is often used as a metaphor to symbolise unity and strength – while a single chopstick can be easily broken, a bunch bound together is much stronger and harder to break.
“For the finals, the live performance on the same theme should last between 60 and 80 minutes,” said the announcement.
The competition process is divided into two phases. Each Bassac troupe must submit their video performances to the organising committee via the fine arts department or directly to the ministry from now until end of business September 13.
The jury will evaluate the submissions and select five groups to proceed to the final round. The results of the qualifying round will be announced on September 27 on the ministry’s Facebook page. The selected troupes will perform live in late October.
The prizes for the competition are substantial: all teams will receive a certificate, with the first-place winner also receiving a gold trophy and eight million riel ($1,950), the second-place winner a silver trophy and six million riel ($1,460) and the third-place winner a bronze trophy and four million riel ($970).
Lakhon Bassac is a popular form of Cambodian theatre that often incorporates spoken dialogue, songs and dance. It originated in the Tonle Bassac River region and is known for its blend of traditional and modern elements, often performed in open-air settings. Themes range from classical myths to contemporary stories.
For more details and participation guidelines, interested parties are encouraged to visit the ministry’s official Facebook page.
