Phương Nam Theatre’ actors provide young audiences with talks about Vietnamese puppetry and its history after every show. — Photo courtesy of the producer

HCM CITY -  The Phương Nam Theatre has launched two new water puppetry and circus-based plays, offering fresh entertainment options to children in HCM City. 

The Lòng Mẹ (Mother’s Love) and Huyền Bí Ba Tư (Magical World) plays are staged every weekend. 

The two plays made their debut during the Tết (Lunar New Year) holiday at the Gia Định Park in Phú Nhuận District, garnering favourable feedback from their young audience. 

The water puppet play, Lòng Mẹ highlights a mother’s love, bravery, self-respect and honesty, striking a strong chord with children. 

The circus show, Huyền Bí Ba Tư, features characters from the world’s most popular fairy tales contained in Arabian One Thousand and One Nights. 

Using more than 20 artistes each, the plays also charm with their Vietnamese folk music scores.

After every show, brief talks about Vietnamese puppetry and its history help children and adults gain a greater understanding of national culture.

Phương Nam Theatre, one of HCM City’s leading private theatres, is staging two new plays every weekend after a long suspension because of the COVID-19 outbreak. — Photo courtesy of the producer

 “Our new plays were scheduled to be released last year to entertain children during summer and the Mid-Autumn Full Moon festival. They were postponed after cinemas and theatres in HCM City closed following the fourth wave of COVID-19 that struck last April,” said theatre director Lê Diễn.  

“Our artists are ready and eager to entertain young audience after the prolonged suspension.” 

Lòng Mẹ and Huyền Bí Ba Tư played three shows every day during the Tết holiday, attracting more than 2,000 children and their parents in February 1 -6|, the first days of the Lunar New Year. 

“We are hoping for a good year for profits in ticket sales as we emerge from the lockdown,” said Diễn, who has more than 20 years of experience in theatre. 

Diễn said his actors are also working on three other water puppet performances called Trâu Vàng Nghinh Tiếp (Golden Buffalo), Cá Chép Hoá Rồng (Carps Turn into Dragons), and Rối Nước Rồng Phương Nam (The South Dragon Water Puppetry). 

These shows tell stories about patriotic heroes based on Vietnamese fairy tales. 

They will be staged at a mobile theatre with 150 seats located at the HCM City Museum of History. 

“We hope to encourage young people to learn about the country’s history, culture and lifestyle through Vietnamese puppetry,” said puppetry artist Nguyễn Phi Sơn of Phương Nam Theatre. 

The plays Lòng Mẹ and Huyền Bí Ba Tư are staged every weekend at the HCM City Circus Theatre in Gia Định Park, Phú Nhuận District.  

Water puppet shows are staged every Saturday at the HCM City Museum of History in District 1. Online tickets can be bought at:  www.nhahatphuongnam.com. VNS