Epic tale staged in Hà Nội to celebrate Women’s Day

March 08, 2017 - 06:00

Vietnamese writer Nguyễn Du’s classic Tale of Kiều will be performed at the Việt Nam National Drama Theater until March 10 to celebrate International Women’s Day, which falls today.

National treasure: A scene in the The Tale of Kiều, performed by artists of the Việt Nam National Drama Theatre. — VNS Photo Bạch Liên
Viet Nam News

HÀ NỘI — Vietnamese writer Nguyễn Du’s classic Tale of Kiều will be performed at the Việt Nam National Drama Theater until March 10 to celebrate International Women’s Day, which falls today.

The theatre, located at 1 Tràng Tiền Street, is staging the play from March 1-10 at 8pm. 

National symbol: The image of lotus-national flower of Việt Nam is present in the play from the beginning to the end. It represents different steps in the life of a person: first it opens, then fully flourishes and finally dies out. But it also represents the beauty, the sacrifices for the love and the life. — VNS Photo Bạch Liên

The play - directed by People’s Artist Anh Tú - tells the Tale of Kiều in a new way, combining singing, dancing and body art. However, he respects the story’s original content:  the injustice of Vietnamese feudal society and the emotional suffering of people, especially women. The work, which debuted November of last year, celebrates kindness, filial piety, and loyalty.

The Tale of Kiều, an epic poem written by Nguyễn Du (1765–1820), is widely regarded as the most significant work of Vietnamese literature. It depicts the arduous life of Thúy Kiều, a beautiful and talented young woman who had to sell herself into prostitution to save her father from prison. Nguyễn Du overcame harsh social prejudice to praise Kiều’s physical and soulful beauty, as well as her talents and personality.—VNS

 

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