Traditional Thai dance forms sit behind much of the performance content in Phuket's cultural shows, even when the staging around them is modern and elaborate.
Khon
Thailand's masked classical dance-drama, traditionally depicting stories from the Ramakien (Thailand's version of the Hindu Ramayana epic) — highly stylised, formal movement performed in elaborate costume and masks.
Lakhon
A broader category of Thai classical dance-drama, generally unmasked and covering a wider range of stories than Khon's Ramakien focus.
Fon Thai
Regional folk dance forms, generally simpler and more accessible than the highly formal Khon tradition — more commonly what appears in shorter cultural show segments aimed at visitors.
Where to see it
Phuket's larger dinner-and-show venues (see our cultural shows guide) generally draw on these traditions within a more modern, effects-heavy production — worth knowing the difference if you want to seek out a more traditional, less theatrical performance instead.