Circus tricks will enrich cải lương (reformed arts) in the new piece. — Photo courtesy of the Việt Nam Circus Federation

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam’s first theatrical work made up of circus and cải lương (reformed arts) – Cây Gậy Thần (The Magic Stick) – has recently been launched in Hà Nội.

The Magic Stick is run by the Việt Nam Circus Federation and the Việt Nam Cải Lương Theatre.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the director of Việt Nam Circus Federation, People's Artist Tạ Duy Ánh, said the play is expected to lay the foundation for more collaborations between the two art forms.

“The Magic Stick resulted from the collaboration between Việt Nam Circus Federation and the Việt Nam Cải Lương Theatre following an order by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

"It is the first work within a joint art project of two units entitled Huyền Sử Việt (Vietnamese legendary history) that includes four works praising the four immortals in traditional Vietnamese mythology – Tản Viên (the God of the Mountain), Saint Gióng, Chử Đồng Tử and the Mother Goddess Liễu Hạnh,” he said.

“The artists and creators will devote themselves in creating a serious and quality work of art that can be introduced to both domestic and international audiences,” Ánh added.

The Magic Stick is the stage adaptation written by the late renowned author Hoàng Luyện inspired by the legend of the love between Chử Đồng Tử and Princess Tiên Dung.

The original script was revised and cut in half by author Lê Thế Song, Luyện’s son-in-law, to suit the mode of performance.

The play will be staged by many experienced Vietnamese artists and performed by more than 100 talented artists from both Việt Nam Cải Lương Theatre and the Việt Nam Circus Federation.

Modern sound and lighting technologies will also be integrated into the play for advanced visual and sound effects.

“The project Vietnamese Legendary History is an art innovation that combines many innovative elements with the aims to honour the traditional cultural values ​​of the nation and attract more audiences to the theatrical stage,” said co-director of the play Triệu Trung Kiên, who is the acting director of Việt Nam Cải Lương Theatre.

According to Kiên, Vietnamese performing arts are facing many difficulties during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the artists are determined to overcome with innovations to draw more viewers to the theatres.

“The Magic Stick is an emerging endeavour of art makers. This combination will help to improve the weaknesses and promote the advantages of two types of arts. Certainly, from the experiments of the creative crew, the audience and colleagues will see the transformation of both reformed and circus arts," he added.

The Magic Stick will be staged at the end of November. — VNS