Once a year, Chulalongkorn University's architecture students get together to build something different - a stage play

For many undergraduate students, the summer break between March and May is the most relaxing time of their life. It's a time for fun under the sun.

But for a group of Chulalongkorn University architecture students, the three-month period holds something more special. It's their time to continue what has become a faculty tradition: staging a play.

A history

The director of this year's play project, Patawee Wasiksiri, says Chula's architecture plays originated from a Thai country song performance called "Luk Thung Thapat" that was organised by the faculty.

"In the beginning, it was just a music show looking for donations for student activities. Then, in 1974, it became the annual stage play that is a familiar event today," Patawee says.

Some years more than one production is presented, so that there has been 49 plays in all so far.

Everyone gets a part

What makes the architecture faculty's plays different is that, instead of developing a script then holding auditions to find a cast, the process is reversed.

"We have a process called a try-out, in which the script is adapted and made suitable for all of those who come to rehearse," explains the overseer of the play project, Tanapon Saereedeelert.

"Everyone is given a speaking part, then sent on to the stage. It's like a big family, no one is cut out."

Learning new skills

During their studies, architecture students often lead a solitary life, drawing and designing alone, and this can lead to a lack of social skills, particularly communication skills.

Pimsiri Naksawasdi says that joining the project as a public relations staff helped her overcome this weakness.

"My job was to look for a sponsor, and it gave me the chance to practice presentation and selling skills, an experience I can use after graduation," she says.

"Sometimes, good design alone is not enough. You have to have the skills to negotiate and convince. Dealing with different types of people, I also learned about social manners."

Patawee, Tanaporn and Pimsiri are third-year students at Chula's architecture faculty.

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Learn these lines

>> This year's play is called "Kroh Petch Jed Sii" ("Seven-Colour Diamond Armour"), a story about a fight between good and evil for a magic suit of armour.

>> The play will be performed from May 16-18 and May 23-25. Tickets cost Bt160, Bt200 and Bt240 and can be bought at Chulalongkorn's faculty of architecture.

>> For more information, call (080) 782 9886, or visit

www.Arch-Armour.com.