Cải lương actor Bạch Long performs in Nghệ Sĩ Thời Covid (Theatre Actors Living during Covid-19 Fight), a new TV series featuring famous theatre actors, produced by HCM City Television. The show airs on HTV7. Photo courtesy of the producer

HCM CITY— A TV show featuring famous theatre actors and their daily activities during Covid-19 has been released on the HCM City Television.  

The 16-part series, Nghệ Sĩ Thời Covid (Actors Live in Covid-19 Fight), aims to bring actors and their fans together.  

It encourages audiences, particularly teenagers and young people, to live useful and healthy lives. 

“Our show features performances staged by actors of HCM City who hope audiences will be entertained these days,” the show’s producer and director Thanh Hiệp, a member of HCM City Theatre Actors’ Association, said.

“Charity programmes launched by the actors are also included.”

The first show of Nghệ Sĩ Thời Covid, released last weekend, features veteran actor Bạch Long, one of the region’s talented performers of cải lương (reformed opera).

Born to a traditional family in HCM City, Long began his love for cải lương when he was a child. His first lessons came from his father, People’s Artist Thành Tôn, a well-known artist of the region who offered training to young talents in the 1970s and 80s.

Long improved his skills under the instruction of famous artists of State-owned leading theatres.

“My teachers told me that for a true artist, his or her beauty is nothing without performance skills," said the 61-year-old.

In 1992, he opened the Đồng Ấu Troupe which consisted of teenage artists. The troupe attracted and trained dozens of young talents, including Meritorious Artist and cải lương stars Quế Trân, Tú Sương and Lê Thanh Thảo.  

Long’s troupe has travelled many provinces to offer performances. His artists have also performed in charity programmes launched by the city’s Theatre Actors’ Association and HTV.

In the series, Nghệ Sĩ Thời Covid, Long sends his messages about love and duty to young fans. He also encourages young actors, who have launched charity programmes aimed at poor and rural farmers during the virus outbreak and social distancing period.

According to producer Hiệp, Nghệ Sĩ Thời Covid will later feature famous actors Thanh Thủy, Hữu Nghĩa and Thành Lộc. Artists in daily life will be highlighted.  

The series airs at 4:05 pm from Monday through Friday on HTV 7 channel .—VNS