Aorta is a multidisciplinary creative focusing on the female perspective. Their past work—”Cloud Cuckoo Country” and “Saddest Princess on Planet No.4”—held a mirror up to society’s contemporary wounds and made the rounds at international festivals. 

 

“Before 2475”, which will be showing in early August at GalileOasis, takes viewers back to a hopeful period in history before the 1932 Siamese Revolution and into the bustling nascent streets of Paris frequented by the likes of Ernest Hemmingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Here, seven young Siamese men, who would later become known as the People’s Party, joined in this foreign land to begin an unlikely friendship that changed their country forever.

 

BK sat down with Aorta team—writer and director Aim-ei “Aim” Polpitak, producer Tamonwan “Tan” Ratanapongumpai, and producer slash music director Pimburabha “Gam” Thamawuit—on bringing these historical figures to the stage.

 

 

 

Aim: We’ve been wanting to tell this story for awhile. I’m interested in history, and our previous work also explored historical issues that ties into the human experience. The play is about people in their mid 20s. It’s that age where you have so much fire in you, and you are doing things with such conviction and sincerity. Right now, the three of us are around the same age and we might not get to change the country, but we get to do a play that discusses and imagines their state of mind during that pivotal time.

 

 

Aim: When we were growing up, we all agreed that we only saw stories like Suriyothai and Naresuan, which are good stories! It’s entertaining. But I thought it’d be even better to have stories from different perspectives—step outside the premises of the palace or prohibited areas and explore stories about regular folks. I think you can see the effects of those historical events more clearly. 

 

 

 

Aim: There are some historical documents but there aren’t a lot of them. When these guys were 24 to 26, when we were that age, we wouldn’t really think that we’d grow up to be the prime minister, and I think they were just living in the moment. So we lift these events that people know happened like the student rally in the summer or when field marshal Phibun moved his room to be next to Pridi’s. I also talked to Ajarn Kasidit Ananthanathorn and the Pridi Banomyong Institute to piece the story together and fill in the blanks along the way. When you become a historical figure or a statesman, you’re painted in either black or white. It flattens them. We only know these characters through books. But here, we want to tell audiences that they were once like you guys. They have a sense of humor. They are scared, endearing, and have flaws and strengths within themselves. They were once a teen, a child that isn't exactly sure about what they want to do, and they aren’t sure whether what they think can actually be achieved. 

 

 

 

Aim: We will time travel the audience back to Paris in 1925-1927. It’s what we like to call the crazy years. Paris became a city where artistic endeavors and freedom could prosper. I think it's an enchanting period filled with hope and beauty. Being somewhere far from home helps solidify your identity, it drives you to connect with people who share the same values even more. When we travel, we bring our hometown with us and the differences in these countries become more apparent. When Paris was still chaotic and in its developing stages, their identities were likewise still developing.

 

 

 

Gam: We didn’t think we were limited to stories about women. These seven male characters are worth discussing. The more we study them and their humanity, we realize that they can represent something beyond a group of men who had the opportunity to study abroad and came back to change the country. And it’s, of course, written by Aim so it’s still grounded in the female perspective. But I think it’ll resonate with a lot of people regardless of gender. 

 

Aim: Yeah, our mission isn’t just about female characters. We think that female creatives can produce work that’s masculine or about men. When it comes down to it, it’s a story about seven people who are experiencing life in seven ways. Personally, the challenging part was writing their political views in relation to their friendships. I think dialogue is difficult, but it’s my favorite thing to write because people fall in love through conversations and our perspective about each other changes through these discussions. We avoid building characters from stereotypes. We also insert actual quotes that they were known to say in the future. It’s like a historical Easter egg. You can see the formation of who they came to be. 
 

 

 

Gam: I think in “Before 2475” the characters didn’t think that politics was out of their grasp. It was still a seed that they could do whatever they wanted with. It’s like the beginning of a relationship. You want this person to be better and you think you can change them.

 

Tan: I think it’s like when you’re having a crush on someone.

 

Aim: Yeah, “Cloud Cuckoo Country” is so realistic and borders pessimistic, but this one is hopeful. It’s like when you love someone and you think this could work. This story also doesn’t show when reality hits. They have no idea that the fight is just getting started and that they are the seeds of the system we see today. 

 

 

 

Gam: It isn’t a musical, so we don't have a score. We use ambient music to contextualize and immerse the audience. But I think what’s interesting is the use of individual instruments spread throughout the story. When there’s a pivotal moment or when the characters come together, the instruments will culminate into an ensemble. It becomes a complete piece. 

 

 

 

Aim: Yes, they are discussing politics but their friendship is such a charming part of the story. When I read their journals, they talk about these two years abroad with such fondness. It’s a burgeoning and crucial moment in their lives. I think there’s definitely something for everyone regardless of the reason you came to watch. We have a tasting menu that’ll surprise you and caters to different palates.