Bringing theater plays back to life

Bringing theater plays back to life

Bringing theater plays back to life

The Saigon Times Daily

The Hanoi Opera House – PHOTO: TTXVN

Starting from late August 2016, more high-quality theater plays are performed at the 100-year-old Hanoi Opera House, Vietnamplus reports. The information which was announced at a press conference in Hanoi last week has received a positive response from artists and audiences to help save the theater and bring more interesting programs to local and foreign spectators.

Regular shows

Nguyen Dang Chuong, head of the Department of Performing Arts under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, confirmed the department will create opportunities for local art troupes and artists to practice and stage high-quality plays and programs. The department also assures that there are more chances for not only chamber music, musical, and dance programs but also for tuong (classical drama), cheo (northern opera), and cai luong (southern opera) performances.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has planned the performance schedules until the end of 2016. Starting from 2017, the organizers will arrange a regular and fixed schedule on weekends for viewers’ convenience. The ministry is trying to turn the Opera House into an entertainment venue for local and international visitors.

The ministry has joined hands with tourism companies and agencies to bring these art programs to foreign tourists as part of their tours to the country. The first three shows of the new project on the occasion of the 71st National Day of Vietnam are a concert by the Vietnam Symphony Orchestra on August 30, a popular play called “Biet doi bao den” (black panther detachment) of the Vietnam Drama Theater on August 31 and a show of Cheo (northern opera) Theater of Vietnam on September 1.

Strategic steps

Chuong also mentioned opportunities for more art troupes and theaters nationwide to join the program. The Opera House will be responsible for selling tickets and promoting the programs while art troupes and theaters will focus on their quality and creativity of the shows. Professor Nguyen Thi Minh Thai, a theater expert, said: “This is a strategic step to bring more high-quality programs and performances to the Opera House to help save the theater industry which is on the verge of bankruptcy.”

However, Thai also suggested setting up a jury to evaluate the quality of plays and programs to bring more high-quality works of military and police art troupes to raise people’s awareness on social issues and community development.

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