HCM CITY — The HCM City Department of Culture and Sports will launch a month-long programme featuring traditional Vietnamese performing arts to celebrate 100 years of cải lương (reformed opera).

Nguyễn Thị Thanh Thúy, the department’s deputy director, said preparations began in the beginning of the year, which included meetings with departments, the city theatre association, veteran directors, scriptwriters and artists.

“The event is an opportunity for the city’s residents and visitors to learn more about the establishment, development and achievements of cải lương,” said Thúy.

The programme will open with an exhibition showcasing costumes, accessories, props like swords, bows and spears, and portraits of talented Vietnamese cải lương artists on December 17-19 at Trần Hữu Trang Cải Lương Theatre on Trần Hưng Đạo Street in District 1.

Phan Quốc Kiệt, the theatre’s deputy director, said: “The theatre will introduce classic cải lương plays, and the technology used in staging cải lương dozens of years ago will also be featured.”

All the exhibits will be displayed on Nguyễn Huệ Pedestrian Street in District 1 from January 10-14.

On December 20, the theatre will stage a play Giấc Mộng Đêm Xuân (A Dream on a Spring Night) at the city’s Opera House.

The play is a famous work by late scriptwriters Nhị Kiều and Phi Hùng praising the patriotism of cải lương artists.

Directed by People’s Artist Trần Ngọc Giàu, the work will feature cải lương stars Trọng Phúc, Thanh Ngân, Lê Tứ, and Lê Hồng Thắm, among others.

The performance will be broadcast live at 8pm on HCM City Television’s channel HTV1.

A four-hour gala will be held at Nguyễn Huệ Pedestrian Street on January 13 to honour cải lương artists, backstage workers and journalists, who have contributed to the art’s development.

The event at 8pm will feature 400 veteran and young performers and musicians and 100 dancers, who will tell stories about the art’s establishment and development.

On the next day, there will be a performance at Nguyễn Huệ, presenting famous cải lương excerpts from Thái Hậu Dương Vân Nga (Queen Mother Dương Vân Nga), Chiến Binh (The Soldier), and Rạng Ngọc Côn Sơn (Pearl in Côn Sơn).

In recognition of traditional performing artists, the municipal People’s Committee will organise a meeting between the city’s leaders with cải lương artists and theatre artists at the People’s Committee’s headquarter on January 19. — VNS