The cover of Nguyễn Ngọc Bạch- Một Đời Sân Khấu (Memoirs of Nguyễn Ngọc Bạch- A Life on Cải Lương), a book featuring the career of scripwriter and director Bạch, who used his art to serve the revolutionary movement in Việt Nam in the 1950s and 60s.  Photo courtesy of the publisher

HCM CITY — A book about the late Meritorious Artist Nguyễn Ngọc Bạch, a guru of cải lương (reformed opera), has been released in HCM City.

The 498-page book, Nguyễn Ngọc Bạch- Một Đời Sân Khấu (Memoirs of Nguyễn Ngọc Bạch - A Life in Cải Lương), features the career of scriptwriter and director Bach, who used his art to serve the revolutionary movement in Việt Nam in the 1950s and 60s. 

Published by the HCM City General Publishing House, the work includes five chapters about the artist’s famous works about the southern people and soldiers during the country’s two wars of resistance and national construction.

It also features the Cải Lương Nam Bộ Troupe, which opened in 1952 and attracted artists, including Bạch, who were engaged in the revolutionary movement in South Việt Nam.

The troupe played an important role in the theatre’s developments in the South. Its artists used their art to encourage southern people, intellectuals, poor farmers and workers to join the national revolutionary movement.

“The book, Nguyễn Ngọc Bạch-Một Đời Sân Khấu, helps readers, particularly youth, learn more about cải lương and the art’s developments in Vietnamese theatre,” said Meritorious Artist Ca Lê Hồng, who has more than 40 years of experience in cải lương.   

“Young readers can also learn about the country’s history and the great contributions that southern artists made to the country and people,” she added. 

Born in 1922 in An Giang Province, Bạch began to love cải lương when he was a child. 

After the August 1945 Revolution, Bạch joined the revolutionary cause in the South. He worked for the Cải Lương Nam Bộ Troupe, travelling around the region to offer shows featuring the activities of the Việt Minh (Việt Nam League for Independence) Committee of the South in August 1945. In 1954, he and artists of the troupe moved to the North.

He wrote and directed several plays, such as Lửa Cháy Lên Rồi (The Fire) and Máu Thắm Đồng Nọc Nạn (Blood in the Nọc Nạn Field), which portray patriotism and Vietnamese culture and characters. His plays left a strong impression on audiences.

After 1975, he lived and worked in HCM City. In the 1980s, he worked for art schools in the city and neighbouring provinces to offer cải lương training for students.

Artists of the 5B Small Theatre, the first and one of the country’s leading experimental theatres. Photo courtesy of the producer.

He was a founder of the 5B Small Theatre, the first and one of the country’s leading experimental theatres.  

“Bạch’s life is devoted to cải lương. I hope young readers will love the art after watching his book, Nguyễn Ngọc Bạch-Một Đời Sân Khấu,” said actress Hồng.— VNS