Young Cải lương artists have the opportunity to develop their career by participating in the Trần Hữu Trang Cải Lương Talented Performers 2022, a national traditional music contest organised by the HCM City Theatre Association and partners. — Photo courtesy of the organiser

HCM CITY — Organisers are calling on young theatre artists to train and participate in the upcoming national traditional music contest, Trần Hữu Trang Cải Lương Talented Performers 2022.

The event aims to motivate young artists to develop their talent in cải lương (reformed opera), the southern region’s most popular theatre form, and popularise further the art among audiences, particularly young people. 

The contest is being organised by the city’s Theatre Association and Trần Hữu Trang Cải Lương Theatre, a leading troupe in the region. 

“The Trần Hữu Trang Cải Lương Talented Performers contest was launched in 1991 and has discovered and encouraged many new talents since then. This year, we are working to offer new opportunities for young contestants to develop their career,” said theatre director Phan Quốc Kiệt, also director of the Trần Hữu Trang Cải Lương Theatre and a member of the contest’s organising board. 

“We have invited skilled performers like People’s Artist Bạch Tuyết and Meritorious Artist Vũ Linh to train participants and prepare for their performances during the contest,” he said. 

The contest’s selection rounds are taking place in HCM City, Cần Thơ, Tiền Giang and Hà Nội. The semifinals will be held in HCM City, Cần Thơ and Hà Nội in June and July. 

Contestants will perform vọng cổ (nostalgic tunes) songs and cải lương plays. The performances will be broadcast live on the HTV9 channel, reaching millions of viewers around the country. 

The final round will take place over three nights in September in HCM City. 

Twenty finalists will compete for two gold medals for men and women. Four silver medals will also be awarded. The jury will pick their Favourite Performer and Youngest Talent choices. 

“This year, the contest’s organisers are encouraging contestants to introduce new performance styles so that the art form can widen its reach among audiences, particularly young people,” said talented actor Võ Thành Phê of Trần Hữu Trang Cải Lương Theatre, a member of the jury. 

“We hope our winners will be invited to work for leading traditional art troupes and art schools.” 

Phê won a golden medal at the Trần Hữu Trang Cải Lương Talented Performers in 2020. The event attracted about 400 candidates from different cities and provinces. 

Phê will perform in a special show aimed to launch the contest in HCM City this week.  

The show, called Truyền Lửa Đam Mê (Delivering the Fire of Art), will feature other cải lương stars like actresses Tâm Tâm and Ngọc Đợi of HCM City; and Meritorious Artist Thiên Hoa of Hà Nội. 

It will open at 8pm on Thursday (May 7) and Saturday (May 9) at the HCM City Opera House in District 1 and Củ Chi Cultural House in Củ Chi District, respectively. — VNS