Tickets for many plays at Lệ Ngọc Theatre have sold out, just a week after going on sale. — Photo Lệ Ngọc Theare Facebook

HÀ NỘI — Theatres in the capital city are open again and shining bright after COVID-enforced closures and competition with other modern entertainment forms.

An art show programme themed Kịch Xuân - Hành Trình Lưu Giữ Hồn Việt Xưa (Spring Drama - A Journey to Preserve Ancient Vietnamese Soul) at Lệ Ngọc Theatre, an outstanding example of the city's privatisation of art performance activities for many years, has been a great success.

In just a week after opening ticket sales for its three plays, Làm Vua (Being a King), Nước Mắt Của Mẹ (Mother's Tears) and Vụ Án Người Đốt Đền (A Crime of Herostratus), running from February 21 to 25 at the Hà Nội Opera House, tickets have sold-out, the Hà Nội Mới (New Hà Nội) newspaper reported.

From humble beginnings in 2013 as the "Socialised Drama Group" of the Việt Nam National Drama Theatre, the Lệ Ngọc Theatre Club (now known as Lệ Ngọc Theatre), was officially established in September 2016, under the Association of Vietnamese Business Cultural Development and with support of the Vietnam Association of Theater Artists.

The first privatised stage model in Hà Nội is a place to connect the passions and enthusiasm of folk art performance, to develop the nation's traditional art both domestically and internationally.

The theatre promotes research and investment into producing plays that make a big impression on the audience. Many of its products have been invited to be staged at international festivals in countries such as Japan, China, Thailand, the Philippines, Korea, Monaco, Bangladesh, France, Italy and Bhutan.

The theatre was honoured and awarded a certificate of merit by the Việt Nam Theatre Artists' Association in September 2020, for its outstanding contribution to the stage performance of the capital. 

Meanwhile, the French Culture Institute in Hà Nội, L'Espace, has also announced tickets have sold out for a classical music night themed Ấn Tượng (Impression), to be held on February 25, at 24 Tràng Tiền Street, Hoàn Kiếm District, according to Hà Nội Mới.

The organisers and artists have decided to stage one more night show on February 24, to meet the demands of the audience.

Thăng Long Puppet Theatre has announced online that tickets are on sale for the traditional puppet show, which is selling quickly.  

Ấn Tượng (Impression), a classical music night, will be held on February 25, at 24 Tràng Tiền Street, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hà Nội. — Photo nhandan.vn

These positive signs have not come naturally, especially in the context of the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic. However, performances have been prepared carefully, especially ensuring the prevention and control of the pandemic, such as cleaning and disinfecting the theatres and limiting the number of seats available, according to the officials.

Previously, artists and the theatres had mobilised all efforts to overcome difficulties to maintain creativity and rehearsing works. They also focused on interacting with the audience through the internet and provided online performances to boost public support and love for theatres.

All art units realise that young audiences will decide the survival of traditional art in the future so they concentrate on producing shows meeting the young audience demands.

Since October 2021, The Việt Nam Tuồng Theatre, for example, has conducted programmes introducing the art of tuồng (classical drama), especially to young people attracting much attention from this group of audience.

The Việt Nam Puppet Theatre also built a programme to boost the awareness and understanding of young people in puppetry performance. The event, "Experience with Traditional Water Puppetry", presents this unique art to schools for students to enjoy and experience the performance.

Another programme of the theatre, "Puppetry for Spring Travel with 5K", also aims at young audiences by integrating puppetry games with the message of COVID-19 prevention and control. — VNS