CELEBRATING CẢI LƯƠNG - A talk show called Cải Lương Hôm Nay (Vietnamese Reformed Opera Today) encourages veteran theatre artists and young talents to talk about and share their love and experiences of cải lương, the 100-year-old art genre of the South. Photo courtesy of the producer.

HCM CITY— A new art project preserving cải lương (reformed opera) has been launched by the HCM City Theatre Artists’ Association in co-operation with the Phụ Nữ (Women) newspaper.

The project, Cải Lương Hôm Nay (Vietnamese Reformed Opera Today), encourages veteran theatre artists and young talents to talk about and share their love and experiences of cải lương, the 100-year-old art genre of the South.

It is produced by theatre directors and reporters from the association and Phụ Nữ newspaper.

Its first episode was released last week and attracted Meritorious Artist Lê Trung Thảo and Hồ Ngọc Trinh. Theatre director and producer Huỳnh Anh Tuấn was also included.

They talked about livestreaming performances and videos on social networks and YouTube as a way to expand their art and entertain audiences.

“Cải lương is part of our heritage that is hundreds of years old. Artists should bring their art closer to young people,” said theatre director-producer Tuấn, founder and manager of the IDECAF, one of the city’s leading private art troupes.

Tuấn, who has 30 years of experience in the industry, decided to join the talk show because “the project, Cải Lương Hôm Nay, will help expose young people to Vietnamese theatre. The project’s participants are working to expand cải lương and its values to the youth,” he said.

The talk show will be released twice a month on YouTube and the website www.phunuonline.com.vn, and targets young people.

SPREADING THEIR ART - Theatre performers of HCM City have worked to expand their art closer to young people. Photo courtesy of the producer.

Online shows

Theatre performers of HCM City have worked to offer their performances online and release videos on YouTube.

Actor Lê Tứ of Trần Hữu Trang Cải Lương Theatre produces and offers his videos featuring plays and songs in praise of Vietnamese history and culture.

Each of his online performances is a quality show that provides young audiences with useful and fascinating things about cải lương.

“I hope my videos on YouTube will help fans around the world understand why and how cải lương is the spirit of the Vietnamese people," said Tứ, winner of the Special Prize for Actor at the National Theatre Festival for Young Talents in Đà Nẵng in 1998.

Meritorious Artist Kim Tử Long and his wife, theatre actress Trinh Trinh, offer livestreaming performances and videos on social networks.

Their live performances feature vọng cổ (nostalgic tunes) songs and famous extracts from dramatic and historical plays. Tuồng (classical drama), a genre of Vietnamese theatre that originated in the 12th century, is also included.

As the livestream begins on Facebook, Long and Trinh can be seen sitting on a sofa with traditional instruments while positioned in front of their computer, amp, and a smartphone.

“Livestream shows help my art go to fans more easily and quickly,” said 55-year-old Long. “My shows on livestream and clips on YouTube will help fans enjoy cải lương while they stay at home.” –VNS