ENTERTAINING THE KIDS - Talented artists from IDECAF (Institute of Cultural Exchange with France), one of HCM City’s leading private theatres, offer drama and musical shows for children and teenagers. Photo courtesy of IDECAF.

HCM CITY — Children who love theatre will find lots to enjoy in a series of picture books featuring shows produced by artists from the private art troupe IDECAF’s long-term programme.

The books will include beautiful pictures portraying IDECAF artists on stage for the programme called Ngày Xửa Ngày Xưa (Once Upon a Time).

The programme was closed in HCM City last year after 23 years.

It produced 34 plays with more than 900 performances and shows for more than 30,000 children and teenagers. Its productions provided young audiences with new concepts and techniques in Vietnamese drama.

The first book features 30 pictures representing the scenes and characters from the programme’s last show titled Cuộc Phiêu Lưu Của Thuyền Trưởng Sinbad - Đại Chiến Nàng Tiên Cá (The Adventures of Sinbad - The Battle of Mermaids).

The musical is a re-telling of the adventures of Sinbad from The Arabian Nights, a collection of Middle Eastern folk tales.

It attracted famous performers such as Meritorious Artist Thành Lộc, Mỹ Duyên, Lê Khánh and Hữu Châu.

It was staged for 60 shows attracting 18,000 fans in 2022.

The book’s pictures are colourful, depicting IDECAF artists from Cuộc Phiêu Lưu Của Thuyền Trưởng Sinbad - Đại Chiến Nàng Tiên Cá.

Young readers can learn all about the whimsical and magic stories and characters such as captain Sinbad, his staff, and mermaids.

More than 500 copies of the book have been published by the private Dân Trí Publishing House.

“Our picture books will feature IDECAFE shows and talented artists who have worked hard to foster a love of theatre among children and teenagers,” said the theatre’s managing director Trần Quang Thảo.

Thảo said picture books featuring the programme Ngày Xửa Ngày Xưa will help to expand Vietnamese theatre and entertain children and young audiences.

COLOURFUL BOOK - The cover of a picture book featuring the images from musical and drama plays produced by artists from the private IDECAF’s long-running theatre programme for children Ngày Xửa Ngày Xưa (Once Upon a Time). Photo courtesy of IDECAF.

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

The theatre offers many experimental shows in drama, musical, cải lương (reformed opera) and hát bội (central drama), two genres of traditional theatre in the south and central regions. It also offers performances targeting children.

Its new programme for children called Truyện Thần Tiên (Fairy Tales) offers drama and musical shows based on foreign and Vietnamese folk and fairy tales.

The programme’s shows send messages on childhood, friendship, bravery, patriotism and loyalty.

Highlighted performances will combine drama, music and cải lương (reformed opera), a traditional form of Vietnamese theatre which began 100 years ago in the South.

Beautiful costumes, and light and sound effects will be offered to meet the tastes of children. – VNS