Artists from the HCM City Hát Bội Theatre perform hát bội (classical drama) plays targeting foreign visitors. Photo by Ngân Anh

HCM CITY The HCM City Hát Bội Theatre will launch a new programme offering hát bội or tuồng (classical drama) performances for foreign visitors as part of the theatre’s efforts to introduce Vietnamese theatre to the world.   

“Foreign visitors know about our food, traditional markets and landscapes but have no knowledge of our traditional theatre, including hát bội, a unique genre of Vietnamese theatre originating in the 12th century,” said Lê Diễn, director of the theatre. 
“They will learn about the art and the country’s history, culture and lifestyle through our performances.”
In the play Sanh Vi Tướng, Tử Vi Thần, artists will perform dance and music without singing. 
“Hát bội always goes with singing. The words used in the art are very old. We decided to offer this new performance style, with no singing, because foreigners who do not know the Vietnamese language can focus on dance and music, which both feature the play’s theme.”
“Audiences will receive training in makeup, dancing and music in hát bội by artists after the show,” he said.  
Last year, the theatre launched a free programme on Bùi Viện Walking Street in District 1 to introduce the art to foreign visitors. 
The programme, Giới Thiệu Nghệ Thuật Hát Bội (Introducing Hát Bội), features young performers trained by People’s Artist Đinh Bằng Phi. 
It is staged twice a month on weekends.   
Hát bội developed from a folk art to a royal art. It consists of singing and dancing to music. Its themes include monarchist loyalty and patriotic duty which define the play’s structure, features, language, music, colour and characters' struggles and personalities. 
The art features the spirit and characteristics of Vietnamese. 
The play Sanh Vi Tướng, Tử Vi Thần will open at 7pm on September 2 at the Trần Hữu Trang Theatre, 136 Trần Hưng Đạo Street, District 1. Performances take place three times a month.— VNS