CIRCUS CIRCUS: Phương Nam Theatre, one of HCM City’s leading private art troupes, is offering 'Bí Ẩn Nơi Hoang Đảo' (The Secrets of Desert Island), a special circus and musical show aimed at children and young audiences. Photo courtesy of the theatre

HCM CITY — A circus show staged by Phương Nam Theatre, one of HCM City’s leading private art troupes, is attracting children and young audiences in HCM City and neighbouring provinces.

The show, Bí Ẩn Nơi Hoang Đảo (The Secrets of Desert Island), features music, dance, pantomime and circus performances.

It delivers enough images, colours, action and tricks to keep audiences of all ages entertained.

The 90-minute show tells the stories of a boy who discovers the world by traveling to different oceans and islands.

The themes of bravery, self-respect, honesty and friendship are also highlighted.

In the show, more than 20 artists from Phương Nam Theatre perform in a pool. They wear beautiful clothes and accessories with a design suited to the show’s theme.

They introduce their art to the audiences using music, sounds and colourful moving lights.

UNDER THE BIG TOP: Artists perform in water from the circus show Bí Ẩn Nơi Hoang Đảo (The Secrets of Island), a special show of music, dance, pantomime and circus performances by Phương Nam Theatre. Photo courtesy of the theatre

“We spend hours a day to create and work hard on our characters. We want our art to dazzle young audiences,” said the show’s director Công Nguyễn.

Nguyễn has faced challenges and made sacrifices to develop his art. He provides fans with new concepts and techniques in circus.

“I hope Bí Ẩn Nơi Hoang Đảo can enhance young people’s love for circus, a very old and unique performance,” said Nguyễn.

“We hope to attract and develop the next generation of audience members — younger fans, raised on TikTok, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.”

Three years have passed since Phương Nam Theatre has staged its first circus show in musical style, and the time came to find a fresh performance to impress audiences.

According to Nguyễn, the theatre is looking for ways to attract ticket buyers who may have grown weary of acrobats, trapeze artists, contortionists and clowns.

“In Bí Ẩn Nơi Hoang Đảo, our circus artists perform with water in a pool. We wanted to have something very different from anything else we had done,” said Nguyễn.

The show is staged at 9.30am and 7.30pm on Saturday and Sunday at the HCM City Circus Theatre on Hoàng Minh Giám Street, Gò Vấp District, in August and September. — VNS