HCM CITY— More than 30 Vietnamese and foreign circus artists will entertain audiences in HCM City with an extravagant programme during Tết.

The event, International Circus Gala 2020, will be staged during the traditional holiday Tết, which begins on Saturday.

It will offer circus, puppet, dance and fire art performances staged by artists from Cuba, Russia, Ukraine, Mongolia, Việt Nam and the US.

The event’s highlights will include performances by Andrey Petrov of Russia and his staff, who have won top prizes at international circus festivals. They will perform with light and sound effects and stimulating visual imagery. Performances of different magic styles will also be staged.   

“We worked hard to organise the gala in HCM City during Tết. We hope the event will help circus artists and magicians in particular to attract crowds and develop their art,” a representative of the gala’s organiser, Phương Nam Theatre, said.

Phương Nam Theatre will also send its artists to perform at the gala’s opening ceremony on Monday.

HCM City was the first city in the country to open a magic club in 2017. The club has attracted more than 40 magicians, most of whom work for traditional art theatres and circus troupes. Some young talents are members of the USA-based International Brotherhood Magicians (IBM) and International Magicians Society (IMS).

The club offers shows and training for children and teenagers, while poor students and children from open houses and shelters receive free courses.

Last year, the city organised the first International Magic Festival 2019, attracting 60 veteran and young magicians from different countries, such as Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, India, China, Japan, the Philippines and USA.

Highlighted artists were Tony Hassini of the US, Shoot Ogawa of Japan, Wilson Lai of China, Lee Jei Min of South Korea and Cassidy Lee of Singapore.

International Circus Gala 2020 will be staged at 8pm every night from January 20 to February 2 at Gia Định Park in Gò Vấp District. Tickets are available at the box office. — VNS