• Home
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Hosting
  • Newsletter
  • T-Shirt
  • Stickers
  • Tips
  • Contact

Laughing Squid

A daily dose of art, culture and technology.

Musician Plays Piano for Wild Macaque Monkeys Inside an Abandoned Theater in Lopburi, Thailand

by Lori Dorn on November 24, 2020

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • More
  • Pinterest
  • Tumblr
  • LinkedIn
  • Pocket
  • Telegram
  • WhatsApp
  • Skype
  • Reddit
  • Print

Paul Barton, an artist and musician living in Thailand, who often plays piano for rescued elephants at various sanctuaries, did the same for the wild macaques who live inside an abandoned theater in Lopburi. Several of the lively primates hung onto every note and even tried to play the instrument themselves. One elder macaque even introduced herself to the musician.

Here are a few piano moments in the cinema this morning. An old macaque came to say hello and offered her hand in friendship. It was unexpected and I felt moved she ever-so-gently accepted me and a piano into her home.

Macaque Says Hello to Piano Player

Barton’s wife and their daughter Emilie joined Barton the next time he played at the cinema. Emilie provided narration for a little look behind the scenes.

The cinema was right next to the local “Monkey Temple”, which housed and fed wild macaques. Despite the theater’s success with the local community, the business shut down after the macaques took control.

Many years ago the owner had a dream to build a cinema in her hometown. It was a big success with the locals – but only for a short time as the macaques that live at the “Monkey Temple” next door, took a liking to her cinema, and collectively took control of it. They were so well organized and determined, the owner, outnumbered, had no choice but to abandon her business and just let the macaques take over as they wished to.

Barton also plays piano for the macaques who dwell at Dong’s Auto Parts Shop, also in Lopburi.

The shop is a haven for macaques that like human company. Dong’s family feeds them and offers a degree of protection to the young and old macaques.


Follow us on Facebook and Twitter


Related Posts



← Previous Post
Next Post →


Follow Laughing Squid on Facebook and Twitter

Managed WordPress Hosting

Host your WordPress site with Managed WordPress at Laughing Squid Hosting.

Trending on Laughing Squid

  • Dancer Performs a Brilliant, Deliberately Clumsy Acrobatic Routine to Claude Debussy's 'Clair de lune'
    Dancer Performs a Brilliant, Deliberately Clumsy Acrobatic Routine to Claude Debussy's 'Clair de lune'
  • A Wonderful Graphic That Plots the Complex Diverging Timelines Within the Entirety of 'Star Trek'
    A Wonderful Graphic That Plots the Complex Diverging Timelines Within the Entirety of 'Star Trek'
  • A Brilliant Cello Mashup of Beethoven's 'Fifth Symphony' and Led Zeppelin's 'Whole Lotta Love'
    A Brilliant Cello Mashup of Beethoven's 'Fifth Symphony' and Led Zeppelin's 'Whole Lotta Love'
  • Pakistani Orchestra Performs a Brilliant Sitar-Forward Cover of the Dave Brubeck Jazz Classic 'Take Five'
    Pakistani Orchestra Performs a Brilliant Sitar-Forward Cover of the Dave Brubeck Jazz Classic 'Take Five'
  • The Intricate Process of Folding an Exquisitely Detailed Origami Samurai Warrior From a Single Sheet of Paper
    The Intricate Process of Folding an Exquisitely Detailed Origami Samurai Warrior From a Single Sheet of Paper

Powered by Laughing Squid Hosting and WordPress VIP
Newsletter | Affiliate Disclosure | Privacy Policy
© 1995-2021 Laughing Squid LLC, all rights reserved