BEST PLAY: 'Bên Dòng Long Khốt' (At the Long Khốt River) of the Long An Cải Lương Troupe, highlights the Việt Nam-Cambodia friendship and won the Best Play at the National Cải Lương Festival held from November 5-20 in Long An Province. VNA/VNS Photo Đức Hạnh

LONG AN — Two cải lương (reformed opera) plays praising the country and patriotism were named Best Play at the National Cải Lương Festival that closed on Sunday in Tân An City in Long An Province.

The play, Bên Dòng Long Khốt (At the Long Khốt River) of the Long An Cải Lương Troupe, highlights the friendship between Vietnamese and Cambodian peoples in the fight against the genocidal Khmer Rouge Pol Pot regime.

Meanwhile, Đất Liền và Biển Cả (Land and Sea) of the Hải Phòng Troupe portrays soldiers who devote their lives to protecting the national seas and islands.

The Hải Phòng troupe also brought home two awards for Best Director and Best Scriptwriter for female theatre director Hoàng Quỳnh Mai, and playwright Nguyễn Đăng Chương.

The organisers, the Performing Arts Department under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and the provincial People’s Committee, also granted gold medals to 40 of the best actors and best actresses, many of whom are young talents at provincial theatres.

Deputy culture minister Tạ Quang Đông praised the troupes for bringing to the festival quality plays highlighting the country's history, lifestyle, and culture that have helped to boost pride and love for the country among the public.

The National Cải Lương Festival, held from November 5-20, attracted 1,000 cải lương (reformed opera) performers, including 300 young actors and actresses.

It had the participation of 22 state-owned and private art troupes, such as the Hà Nội Cải Lương Theatre, the Trần Hữu Trang Cải Lương Theatre of HCM City, and the Cao Văn Lầu Theatre of Bạc Liêu Province.

The theatres presented 27 plays depicting different topics such as love, patriotism, social issues, and the country’s history, culture and development achievements.

All the plays will be soon broadcast on the Việt Nam Cable Television channel. — VNS