HCM CITY—Young actors from the troupe of HCM City University of Theatre and Cinematography (HUTC) are preparing to take part in the 2016 National Experimental Drama Festival in Hà Nội.       

The artists will stage Medea, a tragi-comedy written by Euripides, a famed playwright of classical Athens.

Directed by People’s Artist Ngọc Giàu, the play is about the life and loves of the beautiful woman Medea, who opposes her unfaithful husband.

“Our version features Medea’s inner emotions of passion, love and vengeance,” said the play’s director Giàu.  

"We are nervous about performing Medea because they are old stories, but also contain social issues of today,” Giàu added.

He said the play replaced dancing and body language to express the actors’ emotions and feelings. Lighting and sound effects were also used.

He also worked with costume designers on making clothes for the characters.  

Instead of using veteran actors for the lead roles, he used a group of young talents of HUTC.   

"I wanted to use students because they make the play fresh. I also wanted to offer opportunities for the youth, who need to challenge themselves in the art," Giàu said.

For Medea, Giàu’s actors have worked several hours a day to improve their singing and dancing skills.

“For me, all experimental plays are a big challenge. I’m very involved in the role because I don’t want to disappoint my colleagues and audiences," said Kim Dung, a HUTC final-year student, who plays a leading role. 

"We joined the festival in the hopes that our troupe will be recognised as a professional theatre. I hope my young staff can learn new things and develop techniques and ways of emotional expression," said Giàu.

Medea will be staged on Saturday at HUTC, 129 Cống Quỳnh Street, District 1, before taking place during the festival, which begins tonight and runs through 19.  —VNS