HÀ NỘI — The latest and most outstanding plays of the Việt Nam National Drama Theatre are being staged locally to celebrate its 65th anniversary.

The special plays include Kiều, an adaptation of The Tale of Kiều by one of Việt Nam’s greatest poets, Nguyễn Du; Hồng Lâu Mộng (The Dream of the Red Chamber), adapted from one of China’s four great classical novels; the world masterpiece Romeo & Juliet by Shakespeare and the war-themed Bão Tố Trường Sơn (Trường Sơn Storms), which takes the setting in the war-torn Trường Sơn trail.

The theatre received the coveted Labour Order, First Class on December 14.

Since its establishment in 1952, Việt Nam National Drama Theatre has released hundreds of plays, many of which won gold and silver medals in domestic and international competitions and festivals and became classical works of Vietnamese drama. They include Hồn Trương Ba, Da Hàng Thịt (Trương Ba’s Soul in a Butcher’s Body), Lâu Đài Cát (Sand Castle), Tai Biến (Accident), Nghêu Sò Ốc Hến (The Stories of the Clam, Oyster, Snail, Mussel).

The theatre is also home to leading artists in Vietnamese drama, including Thế Lữ, Song Kim, Trúc Quỳnh, Trần Tiến and Phạm Bằng. It also hosts 25 people’s artists and nearly 60 meritorious artists, top artistic titles for living artists granted by the Government.

“The Việt Nam National Drama Theatre will create plays on diverse topics, from the adaptations of the world classics to the works that touch the current issues of today’s life, like corruption, traffic safety, family issues and education to serve the local and international audience,” said Deputy Director of the Việt Nam National Drama Theatre, Phạm Anh Tú at the awards ceremony on December 14.

The special plays will be staged at Việt Nam National Drama Theatre until next Friday. — VNS