DRAMA MASTERS - Artists from 20 State-owned and private theatres and art troupes will perform at the first HCM City Drama Festival 2024, which takes place from November 12 to 29. Photo courtesy of HCM City Theatre Artists’ Association.

HCM CITY — The first Hồ Chí Minh City Drama Festival 2024 will open at the city’s Opera House on November 12.

The event is organised by the city’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism in co-operation with its partners, including the Việt Nam Theatre Artists’ Association and HCM City Theatre Association.

It will attract 300 artists, including theatre stars Thành Lộc, Hồng Vân and Hữu Châu, from 20 private and State-owned art troupes and theatres.

The artists will offer shows of 90 – 150 minutes featuring different topics.

The organisers encourage new productions using experimental concepts in structure, conversation and directing style.

Plays about Vietnamese history are also encouraged.

Young artists from TKC Drama Stage, one of the city’s leading private art troupes, will compete at the festival.

They are working on a new version of Hai Người Mẹ (The Two Mothers), a historical play written by well-known artist Lê Thu Hạnh of HCM City.

The show features patriotism, bravery, and love.

It depicts women living in the South of Việt Nam during the anti-American war in the early 1970s. Their sacrifices and contribution to the complete liberation of the South and the country’s reunification are highlighted.

The play’s director, Trịnh Kim Chi invested several hundred millions of đồng on high-tech equipment, including light and sound effects, artificial smoke and visual arts.

“Our play, Hai Người Mẹ, is a very old topic of war and love. We perform it with a modern concept to attract young audiences,” said Chi, owner of the troupe, who has 25 years in the industry.

The HCM City Drama Festival 2024 will close on November 29. Gold and silver medals will be presented to the best plays, best directors, and best female and male artists.

A photo exhibition featuring the South’s and HCM City’s development in different periods will take place in Lam Sơn Park in District 1 during the festival.

“Through the festival, we hope to offer opportunities to help city artists develop their art and draw young audiences back to theatre as well,” said People’s Artist Trần Ngọc Giàu, chairman of the city’s Theatre Association. VNS