page_title: Likay
section_title: Origin
hierarchical_section_title: Likay / Origin
caption_attribution_description: 25 Jan '08 Camera&#160;: Rolleiflex2.8D Film&#160;: Fomapan 100 push 3 stop ลิเกสามสมัย สมชาย บุตรสำราญ, BKK, Thailand
context_page_description: Likay is a form of popular folk theatre from Thailand. Its uniqueness is found in the combination of extravagant costumes with barely equipped stages and vaguely determined storylines, so that the performances depend mainly on the actors' skills of improvisation and the audiences' imagination.
context_section_description: There are several competing ideas about the origins and development of likay. However, the most likely is that likay has roots in the Malay jikey, an Islamic chant. Since there is a wide gap between this religious performance and folk entertainment, it is also possible that Likay derives from India instead, especially as there are many Indian dance gestures found in the actors' performances.
  The lack of historic references also creates controversy about the first emergence of likay, but it is most likely to have emerged as a distinct form of theatre in the late-19th century. Today the performances mainly take place in rural areas, at temple fairs, and private sponsored events. Even though TV and radio still broadcast performances of likay, this form of folk theatre is becoming rarer.
caption: Likay Actor
exif: {}