TRADITIONAL ARTIST - Actor Vũ Luân, founder and art director of Vũ Luân Troupe, one of the region’s leading private traditional troupes. Photo courtesy of VũLuân Troupe.

By Thu Anh 

HCM CITY — Cải lương (reformed opera) star Vũ Luân of HCM City will attend the first National Theatre Festival for Children and Teenagers in Hải Phòng City from May 13-20.

The artist will perform in Lá Cờ Thêu Sáu Chữ Vàng (Embroidered flag with six golden words), a new production on Vietnamese history staged by the private Sen Việt Theatre. 

He and his peers will introduce a show of musical and Southern theatre. 

They will be accompanied by Vietnamese folk instruments, such as tranh (Vietnamese zither), bầu (Vietnamese monochord) and nguyệt (two-stringed long neck moon flute). 

Unique styles of cải lương and tuồng (classical drama), two special theatre genres that originated in south and central Việt Nam, will be featured. 

“Our art will introduce a modern style of Vietnamese theatre that meets the demands of young audiences,” said Luân, who has 30 years in the industry. 

Lá Cờ Thêu Sáu Chữ Vàng is directed and produced by Meritorious Artist Lê Nguyên Đạt, theatre director of Sen Việt. 

It tells the story of young hero Trần Quốc Toản of the Trần Dynasty, who was 16 and well known for his active role in the war of resistance of Đại Việt (now Việt Nam) against the Mongol invasion in 1282.

Themes of monarchist loyalty and patriotism will be highlighted. 

Director Đạt has worked with his staff to combine traditional songs, dances and musical pieces. 

“Performing in Đạt’s show is a chance for me to learn more from younger colleagues, who have devoted all their love and energy to renew traditional theatre with modern techniques,” said 52-year-old Luân. 

STRONG MESSAGE - A poster of Lá Cờ Thêu Sáu Chữ Vàng (Embroidered flag with six golden words), a production on Vietnamese history with cải lương star Vũ Luân of HCM City. The play will enter the first National Theatre Festival for Children and Teenagers in Hải Phòng City from May 13-20. Photo courtesy of Sen Việt Theatre.

Luân began his professional career in HCM City after working for the Đồng Ấu Troupe owed by well-known actor Bạch Long. 

He also studied and improved cải lương and traditional music under the instruction of Long. 

In 2001, Luân was invited to work for the Trần Hữu Trang Cải Lương Theatre, one of the country’s leading cải lương troupes.

Two years later, he organised his first live show titled Đường Tới Tương Lai (Reaching to the Future). 

The event offered extravagant performances staged by nearly 200 artists, dancers, musicians and stuntmen. It attracted nearly 1,000 spectators. 

In 2007, he won a gold medal for best actor at the National Competition for Cải Lương Young Talents, organised annually by the HCM City Theatre Association. He spent 20 years performing before taking home his first national prize.

Leader

Luân opened his own Vũ Luân Troupe in 2000. The theatre offered experimental shows featuring a modern style of cải lương. 

In 2010, Luân went bankrupt and had closed his troupe. 

“My staff and I faced many challenges to keep our theatre open,” said Luân, who invested his own money to bring cải lương closer to young audiences. 

Luân believes cải lương should be staged in new styles to lure audiences back to traditional theatre from video games, cinemas, and online entertainment platforms. 

In 2019, his troupe reopened and offering performances for VNĐ50,000 (US$2) a ticket to serve students and low-income people. 

Luân’s actors, mostly students from art schools in the city and neighbouring provinces, have worked to offer cải lương in an unique style. Their art always has quality images, sound and music.

“We hope our shows will entertain and provide youngsters with knowledge and lessons about Vietnamese culture and theatre,” said Luân. 

Vũ Luân Troupe is offering performances on weekends at Trần Hữu Trang Cải Lương Theatre, 136 Trần Hưng Đạo Street in District 1.— VNS