By Thu Anh

New drama and musical shows for children will be staged by drama troupes and theatres in HCM City to celebrate the Christmas and New Year seasons.

The shows will acquaint young audiences with Vietnamese folk stories, fairy tales and traditional culture.

Highlighted shows include Bộ Lạc Nanh Trắng (The Village), a musical that features bravery, self-respect, honesty and friendship.

The production made its debut in May as part of the theatre’s summer programme for children and left a very strong impression on kids and their parents.

The work will be restaged in a new version to serve theatre lovers during Christmas and New Year holidays.

“My work uses elements from the book series of Vietnamese fairy tales called Kho Tàng Truyện Cổ Tích Việt Nam (The Treasure of Vietnamese Fairy Tales), which was collected and rewritten by the late professor Nguyễn Đổng Chi, one of the country’s most popular cultural researchers,” said the play’s director Huy Hoàng. “It carries messages encouraging children to work together and fight negativity.”

The book series Kho Tàng Truyện Cổ Tích Việt Nam includes five books and features 150 stories of friendship, love and dreams.

They feature the country's history, culture and lifestyle.

PLAYS FOR KIDS: Dramas produced by theatres and art troupes for children featuring stories and characters from Vietnamese fairy tales. Photo courtesy of the producer.

“Vietnamese fairy tales from the series Kho Tàng Truyện Cổ Tích Việt Nam include useful lessons. We hope young audiences can see the beautiful minds and brave character of Vietnamese people after watching our shows,” said actress Mỹ Uyên, director of 5B Small Theatre.

“I think HCM City does not have enough theatre shows for young audiences, particularly children. Therefore, we have worked to offer new shows that they can enjoy this season.”

Bộ Lạc Nanh Trắng will debut at 8pm on December 11 at the 5B Small Theatre, 5B Võ Văn Tần Street in District 3. The show will also be performed on December 17, 25 and New Year's Eve.

Another show is Cóc Kiện Trời (The Toad Sues the God for Rain), a production that combines musical elements and cải lương or reformed drama - a 100-year-old traditional theatrical genre in the South.

It tells the story of a little toad who goes to heaven in order to sue God to make rain to save animals living in a drought.

Love, trust, sharing, understanding, and bravery are highlighted.

The play has attracted young talents Trần Quân, Bạch Luân and Thanh Dư of the Đồng Ấu Bạch Long Troupe.

“Our new show, Cóc Kiện Trời, will provide young audiences with beautiful images, sounds and music,” said the troupe’s founder, art director and actor Bạch Long, who has 40 years of experience in the industry. “We are working to make every show for children a combination of drama, cải lương (reformed opera), tuồng (classic drama), Vietnamese dance and music.”

HOLIDAY ENTERTAINMENT: The Đồng Ấu Bạch Long Troupe, one of HCM City’s leading private theatres, will present a series of new plays for children to celebrate the Christmas and New Year seasons. Photo courtesy of the theatre.

Long’s actors are aged six to 16 years old who study at art schools and training courses offered by leading theatres. They have worked to preserve and bring the traditional art forms closer to children and teenagers.

The Sân Khấu Tài Năng (Talent Stage) Club will offer a series of performances of reformed opera, classical drama and hát bội, a traditional theatrical genre of the central region.

To serve young people, the troupe will stage Trần Quốc Toản Ra Quân (Young Hero Trần Quốc Toản in Battle), a cải lương play featuring Vietnamese history.

The show will include quality images, sound and music.

Veteran artists Tú Sương and Điền Trung are working to help their younger peers improve their vocal and performance skills to renew the art.

“We will help young talent develop their careers, while preserving and bringing the traditional art forms closer to young audiences,” said theatre scriptwriter-director Hoàng Song Việt, a founder of the club.

New shows by young actors of Sân Khấu Tài Năng Club will be staged on December 11, 17 and 24 at Trần Hữu Trang Cải Lương Theatre, 136D Trần Hưng Đạo Street in District 1.

The play Cóc Kiện Trời will be performed at the Nón Lá Theatre, 55B Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai Street in District 3 to entertain young audiences during the Christmas and New Year season, starting on December 11. VNS