Khrai Nai Baan: Creation of a Gothic play script about sexual prejudice against Sapphism

Abstract

This research aims to examine the strategies employed in writing a play that centers on lesbian relationships, as well as to explore the creation of a Gothic-style script that addresses gender bias against women who love women. The study adopts Robert Harris’s concept of Gothic literary elements as a principal framework for developing the script, utilizing the symbolism of “ghosts” and “haunting” to reflect gender prejudice.

The scriptwriting process began with an investigation and analysis of the gender bias experienced by lesbian women in both historical and contemporary contexts, which informed the thematic core of the play. The resulting play, Khrai Nai Ban ("Who in the House"), comprises two narrative threads: the primary storyline portrays a contemporary lesbian relationship, while the secondary storyline presents a tragic love story between two women from the past.

The play was performed and evaluated through audience questionnaires. The findings suggest that the play effectively communicates issues concerning lesbian love and gender bias. However, the ghostly symbolism intended to represent such prejudice did not fully resonate with the audience. This shortcoming may stem from the overly conciliatory tone of the dialogue. The protagonist, in particular, should have experienced greater emotional pain to effectively convey the severity and trauma of gender-based discrimination faced by women who love women.