Buddhist director finds spiritual meaning in telling story of Thailand’s Catholic martyrs

Theater director Ing Pokkasina reflected on the spiritual impact of directing a production about Thailand’s Catholic martyrs one week after its staging at the Baan Song Khon Shrine. Pokkasina, a Buddhist professor at Sakon Nakhon Rajabhat University, directed the open-air production titled “Echoes of Faith: The Blessed Martyrs of Song Khon.”

The production used live theater, choral music, and an original score to recount the history of the first native Thais canonized by the Catholic Church. The performance focused on seven Thai Catholics, including laywomen, religious sisters, and catechists, who were killed for their faith in December 1940.

The event took place in Song Khon, located in the Archdiocese of Thare-Nongseng in northeastern Thailand. Pokkasina stated that the project evolved from a professional assignment into a significant life journey as he worked to translate the historical and religious narrative into a theatrical experience.