HCM CITY – Dozens of veteran and young cải lương (reformed theatre) artists and singers will perform at HCM City Theatre for a charity programme to raise funds for poor farmers living in the Cửu Long (Mekong) River Delta provinces.

The 90-minute concert, Vầng Trăng Mẹ (Moon Mother), will feature cải lương stars like Ngọc Giàu and Phương Hồng Thủy, together with young singers Quang Thành and Kim Anh. Vietnamese-American singer Khánh Ly will be a guest artist. 

They will stage songs in praise of love and women composed by veteran artists Trịnh Công Sơn and Phạm Duy. Famous extracts from historical cải lương plays will also be highlighted.  

"Our annual concert which began in 2012 aims to raise money to upgrade and build bridges in remote areas of the region," said 54-year-old actress and director Thanh Thủy, the event’s organiser.

“We hope our art will encourage more associations and individuals, including artists in theatre and movie, to work for charity,” she said.

All of the artists taking part in the event will perform for free. They will also donate clothes, food and money.

Last year, Vầng Trăng Mẹ raised over VNĐ500 million (US$22,000) to build five bridges in Long An, Tiền Giang and Đồng Tháp provinces.   

Thủy began her professional career after graduating from the HCM City Theatre & Cinematography in 1992.  

She later worked with her colleagues, Quốc Thảo and Thanh Hoàng, opening and developing the 5B Small Drama Theatre, one of the region’s leading drama troupes.

She has performed in more than 200 plays, videos and movies.

In 2003, she began working as a theatre director for dozens of State-owned and private drama troupes. She won several top prizes for the best dramatic actress and director at national professional drama festivals and contests.

In 2011, she won the Favourite Dramatic Actress award presented by HCM City Television.   

The show Vầng Trăng Mẹ will open at 8pm on September 15 at 26/6A Nguyễn Bỉnh Khiêm St in District 1. Tickets are available at the theatre’s box office. — VNS