ENTERTAINING HISTORY: The Trần Hữu Trang Cải Lương Theatre will offer a free performance of the play 'Thành Phố Buổi Bình Minh' (The City at Dawn) for the people in Củ Chi District on August 28. — Photo phunuonline.com.vn

HCM CITY — The HCM City-based Trần Hữu Trang Cải Lương Theatre in cooperation with its partner, the city's Party Committee's Department of Publicity and Education, will launch a cải lương (reformed opera) show in the outskirt district of Củ Chi on August 28.

The event aims to celebrate the 77th anniversary of the August Revolution (August 19, 1945) and National Day (September 2, 1945) and the 100th birthday of the late Prime Minister Võ Văn Kiệt (November 23, 1922).

The highlight of the programme will be the cải lương play Thành Phố Buổi Bình Minh (The City at Dawn).

The play portrays the life and career of PM Kiệt when he served as Secretary of the HCM City Party Committee from 1976 to 1982.

He made significant decisions and contributions to the development of the city as well as the country.

The performance will feature celebrated artist Lê Tứ, and dozens of young artists of the theatre, such as Lam Tuyền, Minh Thường, and Thy Phương.

Lê Tứ, who plays PM Kiệt, said, “When joining the play, I learnt a lot about history and how hard our leaders and people worked to make the city and country to develop strongly.”

Phan Quốc Kiệt, director of the play, said he spent a lot of time on researching the life and career of PM Kiệt to find an appropriate way to stage the play.

“It must portray an enthusiastic leader with strong will who led the city and its people to overcome challenges during the post-war days,” director Quốc Kiệt said.

The play Thành Phố Buổi Bình Minh will begin at 8pm at the Củ Chi District’s Cultural Centre.

After the show, the theatre plans to host another ten performances for soldiers and people in the city’s outlying districts.

The play will be later performed at the hometown of PM Võ Văn Kiệt in the Mekong Delta Province of Vĩnh Long on November 23. — VNS