HÀ NỘI — On the occasion of the 35th anniversary of the death of famous playwright Lưu Quang Vũ, Việt Nam Drama Theater introduces the art programme ‘Thói đời’ – Lưu Quang Vũ: Lăng kính, sân khấu và cuộc đời (‘Ways of this world’ – Lưu Quang Vũ: Prism, stage, and life).

Bệnh sĩ (‘Conceit’ Disease) is one of the most renowned plays by Việt Nam Drama Theater. — Photo courtesy of Việt Nam Drama Theater.

Việt Nam Drama Theater will perform four plays of the late playwright Vũ including Bệnh sĩ (‘Conceit’ Disease), Người tốt nhà số 5 (The Good Person of the House No. 5), Người trong cõi nhớ (The Person in Memory), and Nguồn sáng trong đời (The Light in Life) from July to August.

Bệnh sĩ (‘Conceit’ Disease) is a play about the chairman of Toàn Nha Commune. Because of their pride and conceited personality, they strive for fame and achievement.

Người tốt nhà số 5 (The Good Person of the House No. 5) is about Hiệp and other families living in the same house. That house is like a miniature society when each family is in a different situation, reflecting the facets of life.

Nguồn sáng trong đời (The Light in Life) is about two veterans Lê Chí and Toàn. Although Chí is blind, his love for sculpture receives admiration, which encourages him to find an opportunity to see the world again. Meanwhile, Toàn gets a fatal illness and he is on the fence about whether to do surgery or not.

Người trong cõi nhớ (The Person in Memory) portrays life, death, and the world between, which expresses Vũ’s philosophical art style.

Lưu Quang Vũ (1948-1988) was a celebrated playwright, poet, and essayist. His literary repertoire includes nearly fifty theatrical plays, three short stories, one collection of essays, and several books of poetry.

He received many posthumous awards, including Việt Nam’s most prestigious honour for cultural achievements, the Hồ Chí Minh Prize in Literature and Arts in 2000.

With the ability to observe the hot issues of life quickly and astutely, along with rich knowledge in many aspects, he conveyed his concerns about social problems and opened reflection on philosophical conflicts.

His works are always alive and followed by contemporary generations of directors, who still adjust to modern-trending details and contexts.

The art programme by Việt Nam National Drama Theater is not only an opportunity to express gratitude to Vũ for his contribution to the national dramatic treasure but also a place to recreate Vũ’s space of art, which delivers profoundly moral and philosophical values.

The first performance of the art programme is ‘Conceit’ Disease at 8pm, on July 22 at Việt Nam Drama Theater.

Tickets can be purchased through the hotline: 024.3933.3535 - 0889.67.67.67 or at Việt Nam Drama Theater, 1 Tràng Tiền Street, Hà Nội. — VNS