ART FOR WORKERS: Young and veteran artists from the Life Drama Club of HCM City Labour Cultural Centre offer Vietnamese drama shows aimed at young labourers in HCM City. Photo courtesy of the theatre

HCM CITY — A special theatre programme offering Vietnamese drama shows aims to entertain and introduce art to young labourers in HCM City.

The programme is being launched by young actors from the Life Drama Club of the city’s Labour Cultural Centre.

It offers two and three-act plays featuring social issues, such as labour law and salaries, environmental pollution, corruption and justice.

The themes of love, marriage and health care are also included.

Through drama, realistic images of Vietnamese labourers, particularly youth who are now working in a global economy, are highlighted.

Each show includes Vietnamese songs, dances and musical pieces.

“Our plays feature the stories of young workers in urban areas who have different opportunities to be free to work, talk, share and love together for a better life here,” said actress Hồng Trang of Life Drama Club in her interview with the Người Lao Động (Labourer) newspaper.

Trang and her club’s members have worked with veteran artists, musicians and cultural researchers from the HCM City Theatre Association to guarantee the art's quality.

“Our performances are aimed at young labourers and their families. We want to bring Vietnamese theatre closer to them,” said Trang, who has five years working with the club.

“In coming weeks, we will offer historical plays that highlight national heroes. We are working to perform vọng cổ (nostalgic tunes) songs, which are often used in cải lương (reformed opera) — a 100-year-old traditional theatre form of the South featuring the dreams and hopes of southern farmers.”

Drama performances will be staged at 8pm every Sunday starting this week at the HCM City Labour Cultural Centre, 55B Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai Street, District 1. Tickets are priced at only VNĐ70,000 (US$3) to attract labourers with lower incomes. VNS