NEW THEATRE - Drama and musical shows for children and youngsters are offered at Thanh Niên Theatre, a new 700-seat theatre recently opened in downtown HCM City. Photo courtesy of the theatre.

HCM CITY — A new theatre offering drama and musical shows aimed at children and young people has opened in downtown HCM City. 

The 700-seat Thanh Niên (Youth) Theatre is located in the HCM City Youth Cultural House on Phạm Ngọc Thạch Street, District 1. 

It offers shows staged by artists from IDECAF Drama Stage, one of the city’s leading private art troupes. 

Traditional performances of tuồng or hát bội (classical theatre) and cải lương (reformed opera), two genres of traditional theatre in southern and central regions, are also included. 

The theatre’s shows begin at 8pm on the weekend and tickets are from VNĐ60,000 (US$2.5) to VNĐ300,000 ($25) each.

The investor is Thái Dương Performance Company, owner of IDECAF Drama Stage.

“Our theatre will provide children and youngsters with new concepts and techniques in drama. We also hope to foster love of the theatre among them,” said Huỳnh Anh Tuấn, art director of Thái Dương Performance Company.

ART FOR YOUTH - Artists of the private IDECAF Drama Troupe help to introduce Vietnamese theatre to young people. Photo courtesy of the theatre.

Thanh Niên Theatre will offer drama shows on Vietnamese history in November and December. 

The works highlight patriotism and loyalty, and are directed by Meritorious Artist Thành Lộc, founder of IDECAF Drama Troupe.  

Lộc has played a key role in the development of the city’s theatre as he produced, directed and performed in many plays since IDECAF Drama Troupe opened in 1997.  

“My staff and I are working to create new shows with images, sounds and music to attract young audiences," said Lộc, who is also a theatre actor and has more than 40 years in the industry.

IDECAF Drama Troupe features 30 professional artists, along with backstage workers. 

Its famous artists include Meritorious Artists Hữu Châu and Mỹ Duyên, and Đình Toàn. 

The troupe’s long-term theatre programme, called Ngày Xửa Ngày Xưa (Once Upon a Time), began in 2000 and has offered more than 32 plays with more than 900 free performances for several thousand young children and teenagers, including disadvantaged children who live at open houses and shelters around the city. — VNS