NEW TROUPE: Meritorious Artist Thành Lộc (central in red) and young actors from the HCM City-based IDECAF Drama Troupe help to introduce Vietnamese theatre to young people. Photo courtesy of IDECAF.

HCM CITY — Meritorious Artist, theatre director and producer Thành Lộc, in co-operation with his partners, will open the Thiên Đăng Art Drama Troupe in HCM City.

The troupe will offer drama and musical shows, and comedy performances aimed at young people.

Traditional Vietnamese theatre genres of cải lương (reformed opera) and tuồng (drama classical) will also be included.

New concepts and techniques in drama will be featured.

“My theatre’s name is Thiên Đăng. Its name means ‘flame of the sky’. Good artists devote their lives to theatre. Their art is like a flame and they will keep the flame burning bright and deliver it to audiences,” Lộc wrote on his facebook page.

Lộc has played a key role in the development of the city’s theatre, as he has produced, directed and performed in many plays since he began his career 50 years ago.

He has offered many experimental shows of dramas, musicals, cải lương (reformed opera) and hát bội (central drama), two genres of traditional theatre in the southern and central regions.

He has worked hard to produce musicals targeting children. His shows always go with images, sounds and music that provide young audiences with wonderful insights about their history, traditional culture and theatre.

WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE: Meritorious Artist Thành Lộc has 50 years working in theatre. He is working to open his own Thiên Đăng Art Drama Troupe in HCM City. Photo courtesy of the artist

Lộc was one of the two founders of IDECAF Drama Troupe, one of HCM City’s leading private theatres opened in 1997. The theatre features 30 professional artists, along with backstage workers.

He was a general art director of the theatre’s long-term programme called Ngày Xửa Ngày Xưa (Once Upon a Time), which began in 2000.

The programme has offered more than 34 plays with more than 900 free performances for thousands of young children and teenagers, including disadvantaged children who live at open houses and shelters around the city.

“I worked on the programme Ngày Xửa Ngày Xưa because I hope to foster a love of the theatre among the youth,” said Lộc.

Many of Lộc’s fans believe that the artist left IDECAF Drama Troupe in June to complete his dream of opening his own theatre, Thiên Đăng Drama Troupe.

“I think Thiên Đăng Art Drama Troupe will offer experimental shows created by its owner, Lộc, a pioneer in southern theatre. The theatre will help to expand Lộc’s art among children and young people,” said Nguyễn Hoàng Anh, a fan who lives in Biên Hoà City, Đồng Nai Province.

Thiên Đăng Art Drama Troupe is scheduled to open in September. — VNS