Artists from Việt Nam Cải Lương Theatre will perform at the 4th Hà Nội Theatre Festival which will run from September 26 to October 3. — Photo toquoc.vn

HÀ NỘI — A theatre production entitled Trương Chi – Mị Nương will open the 4th Hà Nội Theatre Festival on Saturday.

The show will be performed by actors from Hà Nội Drama Theatre featuring a legendary story about an impossible love between a powerful lord's daughter and an ugly fisherman.

The leading roles will be played by popular television actors Hồng Đăng and Quỳnh Kool. It will combine theatre, singing and dancing to make for a unique performance. 

"The festival will provide artists an opportunity to exchange and share performing experiences," said People's Artist Trịnh Thúy Mùi, head of the Việt Nam Theatre Artist's Association. 

"We hope the festival will also help discover and inspire young talents, encouraging them to contribute to developing theatre."

Fourteen productions by Hà Nội-based art troupes and others from provinces and cities will join the festival including Hà Nội Drama Theatre, Việt Nam Drama Theatre, Bắc Giang Chèo Theatre, HCM Theatre Artist's Association and Hà Nội Chèo Theatre. 

The HCM Theatre Artist's Association will perform a play entitled Chuyện Thành Cổ Loa (Cổ Loa Citadel Legend). The script was penned by authors Mai Hương and Nguyên Phương, telling the story of Hà Nội's oldest citadel.  

"We want to show our performing skills which are creative," said actor Bảo Trí.

"I'm a little bit nervous because my role requires martial arts," he said. 

The actor will play the leading role in Chuyện Thành Cổ Loa (Story of the Cổ Loa Citadel), a production about Vietnamese history and culture in the period ruled by King An Dương Vương, founder of the Âu Lạc Kingdom in the third century BC. 

Trí will play a royal palace guard who serves King Vương. 

Chuyện Thành Cổ Loa depicts patriotism and honesty, as well as love and betrayal. 

The 2,300-year-old Cổ Loa Citadel, Hà Nội’s oldest citadel, was built near Phong Khê, about 20 kilometres north of today's Hà Nội, during the Hồng Bàng Dynasty (about 275 BC). 

Covering nearly 5,000 hectares, it is a place of worship for King An Dương Vương and his daughter, Princess Mỵ Châu, who are mentioned in the magical legend that has been woven into the history of Vietnamese people. 

“Artists from the HCM City Theatre Association will offer Vietnamese drama in the style of the South. We’re happy to introduce the art in a southern style for audiences in Hà Nội,” said actor Trí, who has more than 20 years of theatrical experience, in an interview with Người Lao Động (Labourer) newspaper before his trip to Hà Nội. 

“I asked my actors to read several books about the history of Cổ Loa Citadel, its culture and people. This helped to breathe life into the play,” said the play's director, Meritorious Artist Lê Nguyên Đạt. “I hope their performance will leave a new impression on audiences in Hà Nội.”  

The Hà Nội Theatre Festival is run by the Hà Nội Department of Culture and Sports and Việt Nam Theatre Artist's Association to debut new productions about the capital, helping introduce the city's glorious history and traditional culture. 

The festival will celebrate the 1,100th anniversary of Thăng Long – Hà Nội and theatre ancient founders anniversary. 

The award ceremony will be held on October 3 at Công Nhân Theatre, 42 Tràng Tiền Street. — VNS