Join in and laugh at the hilarity of living in Southeast Asia in this parody of Phuket living, and learn about the local lifestyle with three courses of fine dining, breakdancing, and other craziness, all at the Junkyard Theatre.
By: Angus Hamilton
Standing atop a metalworking factory and built out of scraps, the Junkyard Theatre promises the “wildest dinner show” in Phuket. This sustainably made theatre brings to life the story and stereotypes of Phuket in a steampunk-inspired venue with oriental finishings and inspirations found throughout, creating a dramatic atmosphere where you don’t know what to expect. The theatre itself is a canvas for the creatives that worked on it; the variety of interior pieces, with its blasé bronze rusty features, mixes perfectly with the rustic wooden tones of the space. Pop arty splashes of colour around the room had me on my toes, wondering what was going to come around the corner of each of them.
The show started with a welcome drink in their opening bar area around 7 pm. The purple glass of bubbly they served instantly sparked my curiosity, and I started to wonder what I was in for tonight. Ever impatient, I took this time to take in the eclectic space but didn’t have to wait for long.
Popping out from a curtain was a man who seemed to have a frame about 2 feet tall, in front of a golden mandala piece, belting passionate soul classics with a jazzy timbre, charging the night with a powerful crackle of energy with all-time hits like “Feeling Good” by Bublé and “The Girl from Ipanema” by Sinatra. From the beginning, the audience was involved, men, women, and children were beckoned to sing, dance, and twirl away to his karaoke classics and all involved in the show.
The music crescendoed with a crowd-pumping rendition of “Sweet Caroline,” Neil Diamond’s crown jewel, leaving a slight vacuum of energy, which was quickly filled. From behind the life-sized wicker basket elephant sculpture emerged the daredevil high-flying fire show featuring your favourite flips and tricks, and incorporating the Junkyard’s famous breakdancing choreography with acrobatics, synchronized catching, and all sorts of fire-twirling to the cheers of the crowd, which would have even the most critical pyromaniac on their feet, bringing to life the classic Thai tradition and blending it with the showmanship that’s on display all night.
From there the madness only cranked up. MC Siri brought the buzz on this occasion, and her friendly energy and likeable charisma had the crowd cheering, clapping, and shouting on demand.
From there we moved into their open-plan theatre, under the roof of the factory, showing off the open industrial ceiling as well as being able to see over the edge and into the factory. We were welcomed to our tables, and the show began in earnest.
The show was a musical medley sandwiched between hilariously exaggerated dramatics telling a story related to Phuket, playing off so many stereotypes, iconic locales, and funny moments that seem to happen here more than anywhere else. The music would vary from remixes of 50 Cent to Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker to authentic Thai traditional sounds. The authentic Thai tones were echoed throughout the evening.
The stagecraft was a masterclass in production, transporting you initially to Phuket’s airport, then onto the roads of Patong, and other places you may or may not have visited but will learn lots about. Utilising Kibuki curtains, a double-sided roll on stage, and other set-built pieces, Junkyard Theatre turns junk into moments of magic.
I was ready for a show that surpassed expectations, with very few doing it like the Junkyard Theatre on the island, but I wasn’t ready for the food to do the same. A feast of fine Thai dining, traditional dishes were elevated to a quality culinary standard, providing three courses where dishes were given contemporary twists throughout the show. The King Prawn Panang curry was a personal favourite for me, but seafood and savoury standouts were present throughout the whole meal, and I savoured the sweet Mille-Feuille right to the very end.
The night built to an epic dance party finish at the end, and my highlight of the evening was watching the way the crew and everyone around cheered on Alex, the 5-year-old from the crowd who joined the stage and did his own elite version of the running man. Serenaded by cheers and claps from everyone there, the amazing energy and attitude of those involved just brought the night to life and nearly had me finishing my night on the dance floor too.
junkyardtheatre.com
