Artist Thục Hiền in Cánh Diều Lạc Gió (A Kind Lost in The Wind) by Việt Nam Chèo Theatre. Photo nhahatcheovietnam.vn

HÀ NỘI – Around 1,000 artists of chèo (traditional opera) from the northern art troupes will attend a national festival in the northern province of Hà Nam between October 12 to 28.

Chèo is believed to have originated in the 10th century and has its roots in village festivals in the Red River Delta.

The National Chèo Festival will feature 16 troupes, including Hà Nội Chèo Theatre, Ninh Bình Chèo Theatre, Thái Bình Military Theatre and the host province.

“It is the first time Hà Nam Province hosted the national festival,” said Ngô Thanh Tuân, deputy director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

“We are ready to receive artists and organise the festival successfully.”

The troupes will conduct 27 performances to entertain traditional chèo lovers and inspire young audiences.

The festival is a good chance for junior and high school students to access traditional chèo. Around 300 students will be part of the nightly festival audiences.

This will be an extra activity for the students to make them feel proud of and love traditional art genres, according to Tuân.

Những Vì Sao Không Tắt (Eternal Stars), performed by the artists from the Hà Nam Chèo Troupe, will open the festival. The performance will be directed by People’s Artist Trịnh Thúy Mùi, honouring the sacrifice of ten young female militias in Lam Hạ.

Attending the opening ceremony will be popular artists such as Quốc Chiêm, Thanh Ngoan, Thu Huyền and Tự Long.

Leading Việt Nam Chèo Theatre will perform Cánh Diều Lạc Gió (A Kind Lost in The Wind) at the festival closing ceremony.

The festival is organised every three years by the Performing Arts Department in coordination with the Việt Nam Theatre Artists Association.

It is an opportunity for managers and experts to assess the quality of chèo performances to implement a proper decision and strategy to develop the folk music art in modern times.

“Nearly 30 performances being presented at the festival is a good sign,” said Trần Ly Ly, acting head of the department.

“It proves that chèo is still alive. The festival is not only for the artists gathering and performing. It also helps us review and assess how traditional art develops in modern times.

“It is hard work for the festival’s art council to find and award performances that harmonise ideology and modern and traditional cultural identity.

“The festival organisation in the Industry 4.0 era is a fire that lights chèo up and keeps it moving.”

The best performances and artists will be awarded gold and silver medals and cash rewards during the closing ceremony at Culture Centre in the province. VNS