HCM CITY— A creative camp for young writers began at the HCM City Theatre Association yesterday.

The six-day camp has attracted more than 50 young scriptwriters from both State-owned and private theatres and cải lương (reformed opera) troupes, including well-known writers Bích Ngân, Kim Khôi, Ngọc Trúc.

Artists and authors invited by the association are teaching the participants history, traditional culture and theatre as well as writing skills.

“Our fact-finding tours to famous theatres in the region, like Trần Hữu Trang Cải Lương Theatre in HCM City and Bạc Liêu Cải Lương Troupe in Bạc Liêu Province, will help young writers learn about the art from talks and performances staged by experienced actors,” Meritorious Artist Hoa Hạ, deputy director of the association, said.

“Theatres are faced with a shortage of interesting scripts. If cultural authorities want to build on the rising popularity of traditional theatre, they need to encourage and train young scriptwriters,” Hạ, himself a scriptwriter and director of many plays for city and provincial troupes and television channels, said.

The HCM City University of Theatre and Cinematography and HCM City University of Culture, two of the region’s leading art schools, attract more than 1,000 students a year, but only a few dozen join scriptwriting course. — VNS