KIDS CIRCUS: Phương Nam Theatre, one of HCM City’s leading private art troupes, offers special circus and musical shows aimed at children and young audiences. Photo courtesy of Phương Nam Theatre.

HCM CITY  Tickets for a new show by Phương Nam Theatre, one of HCM City’s leading private art troupes, are sold out for March. 

The show, called Vùng Đất Kỳ Bí (The Mysterious Land), is a variety performance of a circus and a musical for children and young audiences. 

It features 20 music, dance, puppet, circus and pantomime performers. 

It highlights southern people and their history, culture and lifestyle. Tài tử music, the prototype for vọng cổ (nostalgic tunes) and cải lương (reformed opera) of the South are also featured. 

Its debut kept audiences of all ages entertained last month. Talented artists used their art to depict beautiful images of green fields and forests, rivers, villages and animals. 

“We were very impressed by the scenes that artists from the event Vùng Đất Kỳ Bí performed in water in a pool to deliver images, colours and actions to fans,” said Trần Thị Diễm Thuý, mother of two, who enjoyed Phương Nam artists and their art in the Tết (Lunar New Year) holiday in early February.  

The theatre’s director, established artist Lê Ích Diễn, said: “We hope our show, Vùng Đất Kỳ Bí, will help young audiences learn and improve their love for Vietnamese history and culture,”

According to Diễn, for every 60-minute performance of the show in March, his staff is working to perfect their art, including sound and light effects, stage clothes and accessories. “We hope to attract a large audience and make good profits,” he said. 

MAGICAL PERFORMANCE: Artists perform in 'Vùng Đất Kỳ Bí' (The Mysterious Land), a special show featuring music, dance, puppets, pantomime and circus by Phương Nam Theatre. Photo courtesy of Phương Nam Theatre.

Phương Nam Theatre began their circus shows in musical style in 2019 and have left a very new taste and strong impression on people. 

“We are looking for ways to attract audiences, particularly youngsters, who may have grown weary of acrobats, trapeze artists, contortionists and clowns. We’re happy to see children and their parents’ love for circus,” said Diễn, who has worked to develop Vietnamese circus for more than 20 years. 

Phương Nam artists will perform at the Phú Thọ Circus & Entertainment Centre in District 1, a new venue with two basements, 12 stories and a 2,000-seat theatre, next month.  

The construction began in 2023 and its investment of VNĐ1.4 trillion (over US$59 million) came from the city’s budget.

The show, Vùng Đất Kỳ Bí, is staged every weekend in March at the HCM City Circus Theatre on Hoàng Minh Giám Street, Gò Vấp District.

Tickets, ranging from VNĐ150,000 (US$6) to 300,000 ($12), for shows in April and May are available at https://datve.nhahatphuongnam.com.vn.  VNS