Joe Louis Puppet Theatre

The Joe Louis Puppet Theatre[1][2] or Nattayasala Hun Lakhon Lek[2] (Thai: นาฏยศาลา หุ่นละครเล็ก), is the traditional Thai Hun Lakorn Lek marionette show originating in 1898, which was modeled from the Siamese court puppetries aged 1782 CE with the Chinese Glove puppetry influence at the Front Palace of Siamese Prince Wichaichan.

[3] From the 1970s, there were thirty puppets in damaged condition that became an inherited property of Sakorn Yang-keawsot (also known as Joe Louis) in Nonthaburi province,[7][1] whose father performed with the troupe.

[3] From 1985, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) promoted Sakorn Yang-keawsot's theatre, the Joe Louis company, from a quaint entertainment to a marker of Thai identity and culture and requested him for puppet performances in a festival targeting tourists.

[3] In the mid-1990s, the Joe Louis Theatre transformed into commercial entertainment in response to the growing tourist market, and Sakorn Yang-keawsot was consecrated as the National Artist (Thailand) in the Performing art field (Marionette Show) in 1996.

[3] In 2010, the renting contract between the Nattayasala Hun Lakhon Lek Theatre (Joe Louis) and the Suan Lum Night Bazaar expired.

[3] In the present, the Nattayasala Hun Lakhon Lek Theatre (Joe Louis) still performs at various events both domestically and internationally and is a national art of Thailand heritage.