In Bóng Long Thành (Silhouette of Thăng Long) will be performed at every Friday at Area 75 – Art & Auction. — Photo area75art.com

HÀ NỘI — Over the past three months, a small theatre in Hà Nội's Old Quarter has established itself as a unique cultural venue, attracting audiences with its intimate puppet performances.

Produced to honour and revive memories of old Hà Nội's rich cultural and artistic heritage, In Bóng Long Thành (Silhouette of Thăng Long) reimagines the city's past through a contemporary performance while preserving its traditional essence.

The production blends puppetry, dance, visual art, the Mother Goddess worship tradition and folk music, using movement, light, sound and puppets to illuminate the cultural depth at the heart of the ancient capital's heritage.

It was staged by People's Artist Nguyễn Tiến Dũng and the Việt Nam Puppet Theatre. 

"Rather than retelling historical events or familiar folk tales, the production takes audiences on a journey through time, gradually revealing the many layers of Hà Nội's cultural memory," said Dũng. 

"Beyond its historic monuments and renowned landmarks, Hà Nội's enduring charm is rooted in its elegant lifestyle, refined customs, winding alleyways and the cultural legacy handed down from one generation to the next.

"These seemingly ordinary elements become the true 'characters' of the production, inviting audiences including international visitors to experience a Hà Nội that is both steeped in history and rich in culture."

Performed in a small venue of just around 100 seats, the production creates an intimate experience rarely found elsewhere. The boundary between performers and the audience is blurred, allowing every gesture of the puppets, every note of sound and every interplay of light to resonate deeply with the audience.

“I have watched many works performed on professional stages, but this production offers a unique emotional experience," said visitor Nguyễn Minh Châu from Tây Hồ Ward.

"Its stories and imagery are so intimate and genuine that I felt as though I was wandering through a city built from memories."

To engage younger audiences, the production team has minimised narrative dialogue and enhanced the use of movement, music, lighting and puppetry as expressive languages.

This approach allows the performance to transcend linguistic boundaries, enabling international audiences, even those unfamiliar with Vietnamese to discover the beauty of Hà Nội through theatrical rhythms, folk sounds and a richly recreated cultural atmosphere. 

“International audiences can discover Hà Nội through the puppets’ movements, the music and the cultural ambience of the performance, even without understanding every word of the dialogue,” Dũng said.

This approach is also in line with the objectives of Resolution 80 issued on developing Vietnamese culture, which calls for greater social engagement, the mobilisation of resources from businesses and communities, and the expansion of public-private partnerships in cultural development.

The production is a collaboration between a public arts institution and a private creative venue that combines contemporary innovation with traditional heritage, offering a promising model for advancing Hà Nội’s cultural industries. — VNS