Studio 88 is delighted to introduce Nontawat Machai (Golf) — a visionary artist, curator, and leading figure in Chiang Mai’s performing arts scene. Renowned for his contribution to performance art, festival creation, and the preservation of performing arts history, Golf plays an integral role in shaping the region’s cultural landscape. Studio 88 has had the pleasure of collaborating with him on numerous occasions, and we are excited that he is now actively engaging with our artists-in-residence program.
Nontawat Machai (Golf), born in Phatthalung Province, southern Thailand. He studied performing arts at Chiang Mai University and is currently based in Chiang Mai, where he creates theatre with the Lanyim Theatre group and works with the People’s History Archive of Northern Thailand at Heuan Khru Angoon Malik (Suan Anya), part of The Jayawana Foundation.
He is a producer, university lecturer, theatre-maker, and contemporary performing arts practitioner. He is a member of Lanyim Theatre, founder of the PaPhayom Community Theatre in his hometown, and the owner of MAMA Studio.
He continues to travel and create performance works across Southeast Asia while developing both the Chiang Mai Performing Arts Festival and the COZOMIA Performing Arts Archives.
Some highlight of his provocative performances and initiatives are:
Ibu Ular (Mother Snake) tells the story of Pran Boon, a hunter pursuing big game in the land of Pattani, alongside the characters Arnon, a writer, and Arif, the individual behind the pen name Arnon. These three interconnected characters narrate their intertwined tale through a series of thought-provoking conversations that reflect themes of violence, oppressive power, and deeply rooted beliefs in Thailand’s three southern border provinces.
ERA OF TRUNK is a performance created through the interaction between the body and ventilation materials. It examines movement in relation to the inhalation and exhalation of air—focusing on its direction, weight, acceleration, and speed. These elements combine to create a movement that projects images of wind, dust, light, smoke, shades of white and grey, rain, heat, and combustion, using the performer’s body to work with materials, ventilation pipes, heat shields, and air filters.
The Circle’s Circumference examines contemporary death and bitter memories that linger in many minds—memories that are impossible to forget or fully recall. The work draws parallels to the current reality of enforced disappearances and torture, which happen easily in a place where injustice is common. These issues continue to exist and seem to be increasing, especially as people start to question and challenge major institutions today.
This performance is created through the movement experiments of Nontawat Machai from the Lanyim Theatre. It investigates the state of “unforgettable, un-rememberable torment” and how such a condition overlaps and diverges within the body. Created from an inner emotional drive derived from study and the attempt to express through the body, the work reflects on cases of enforced disappearance that have occurred in Thai society over the past several decades.
Faceless is a mask performance created by Nontawat Machai, a member of the Lanyim Theatre. This performance delves into the dynamic relationship between the mask and body movement, showcasing how movement can transform characters, reshape space, and alter perceptions and emotions. Through motion, the body itself transforms, becoming something entirely new.
Nontawat Machai is founding and managing initiatives that drive the performing arts scene in Chiang Mai and the region, such as:
Lanyim Theatre is a Chiang Mai-based group known for creating provocative and politically charged performances that address social issues like democracy, human rights, and religion. Their work combines dramatic acting, spoken word, and dance to challenge viewers, often using disturbing props and satirical themes.
The Chiang Mai Performing Arts Festival, co-founded by Nontawat Machai (Golf) and his collaborators, celebrates storytelling as a timeless human expression connecting people, culture, and spirit. Rooted in Chiang Mai’s vibrant blend of tradition and contemporary creativity, the festival brings together artists and audiences from Thailand and around the world in a shared, experiential space. Designed as a five-year initiative beginning in 2023, it aims to strengthen collaboration across communities, government, and the private sector—positioning Chiang Mai as a dynamic international hub for performing arts in Southeast Asia.
COZOMIA Performing Art Archive is a non-profit organization founded in 2024 as an archive and research platform dedicated to performing arts. Its mission is to collect, preserve, and share knowledge about the performing arts of Lanna (Northern Thailand) and the wider Southeast Asian region. The organization’s objectives include:
- compiling data and documentation on performing arts across Southeast Asia,
- supporting academic and artistic research,
- disseminating findings to the public, and
- establishing a Performing Arts Museum in the future.
Founded by Nontawat Machai (Golf), COZOMIA reflects his long-standing commitment to preserving cultural memory and fostering dialogue between tradition, research, and contemporary performance practices in the region.
More about Nontawat Machai.
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