From chicken rice stall to cabaret: Thai transgender performer returns to stage after pandemic hiatus

Record ID: 1687210

  • Title: From chicken rice stall to cabaret: Thai transgender performer returns to stage after pandemic hiatus
  • Date: 2nd September 2022
  • Summary: PATTAYA, CHONBURI, THAILAND (SEPTEMBER 1, 2022) (REUTERS) TRANSGENDER PERFORMER, PEERAPONG “BEE” BUTAKUL DANCING IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA BEE WALKING DOWN FROM STAIRS PATTAYA, CHONBURI, THAILAND (AUGUST 31, 2022) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Thai) TRANSGENDER CABARET PERFORMER, PEERAPONG "BEE" BUTAKUL, SAYING: “I haven’t performed for two to three years and finally get to do it, I’m so thrilled.” PATTAYA, CHONBURI, THAILAND (SEPTEMBER 1, 2022) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PERFORMERS PUTTING MAKE-UP ON VARIOUS OF BEE PUTTING MAKE-UP ON PATTAYA, CHONBURI, THAILAND (AUGUST 31, 2022) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Thai) TRANSGENDER CABARET PERFORMER, PEERAPONG "BEE" BUTAKUL, SAYING: “I’ve transformed my career from a performer to a chicken rice seller during the COVID-19 pandemic in order to survive.” PATTAYA, CHONBURI, THAILAND (SEPTEMBER 1, 2022) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF BEE PUTTING COSTUME ON AUDIO MIXER SLIDERS BEING ADJUSTED STAGE LIGHTS FLASHING SIGN READING (English): “BEAUTIFUL” / PERFORMERS DANCING PATTAYA, CHONBURI, THAILAND (AUGUST 31, 2022) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Thai) TRANSGENDER CABARET PERFORMER, PEERAPONG "BEE" BUTAKUL, SAYING: “In the beginning, I really didn’t want to do it (sell chicken rice) because I’ve never carried heavy stuff or worked under the hot sun before, but I had to because I had no choice. Eventually, I learned to do everything bit by bit.” PATTAYA, CHONBURI, THAILAND (SEPTEMBER 1, 2022) (REUTERS) BEE FLASHING 'V' HAND SIGNS TO COLLEAGUES ON THE SIDE OF THE STAGE
  • Embargoed: 16th September 2022 08:31
  • Keywords: COVID-19 LGBT Pattaya Thailand Tiffany's entertainment performance performer reopening show tourism tourist transgender
  • Location: PATTAYA, THAILAND
  • City: PATTAYA, THAILAND
  • Country: Thailand
  • Topics: Asia / Pacific,Arts/Culture/Entertainment,Editors' Choice
  • Reuters ID: LVA001219601092022RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:A transgender performer at one of Thailand's most famous cabaret shows in Pattaya has returned to the spotlight for the first time in almost three years, after performances resumed on Thursday (September 1).
    “I haven’t performed for two to three years and finally get to do it, I’m so thrilled,” said Peerapong 'Bee' Butakul, who started performing at 19.
    Bee told Reuters her life was upended during the global COVID-19 pandemic hit when theatres were shut down, and she pivoted to selling chicken rice on the street to make ends meet.
    Faced with no income, she started to help her partner out at a chicken rice stall, where she learned to cook, serve, and clean.
    "In the beginning, I really didn’t want to do it (sell chicken rice) because I’ve never carried heavy stuff or worked under the hot sun before, but I had to because I had no choice. Eventually, I learned to do everything bit by bit,” she said.
    Bee often doubted whether she would get to perform again. However, in August, Bee received a phone call from the show manager to rehearse and prepare for a re-opening.
    With carefully applied make-up and a multi-coloured sequinned outfit donned, Bee took to the stage with other performers on Thursday night before an enthusiastic and raucous crowd.
    “Today is the first day that I’m returning to work (as a performer), but I still have to continue selling chicken rice because Tiffany's Show has not returned to a full performance programme just yet, so after I finished performing at 9:30 p.m., I had to rush here (chicken rice stall) and work until 2 a.m. to gain more income.”
    CEO of Tiffany's Show Pattaya, Alisa Phanthusak, said that most of the bookings at the moment were from individuals and locals, which led to a cut in show times.
    Alisa sounded an encouraging note about the first performance in years though. "We feel that they have done their best."
    The Southeast Asian country relies heavily on tourism as a driver of economic growth. Foreign arrivals plummeted to just 428,000 because of the pandemic, compared with a record of nearly 40 million in 2019 when tourism made up 12% of GDP.
    Now, having dropped most pandemic-related restrictions, the government is targeting revenue of $11 billion in the second half of 2022.
    For now, despite the resumption of rehearsals and a dream job as a performer, Bee will still be selling chicken rice to make ends meet.
    (Production: Kwang Jiraporn Kuhakan)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2022. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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