NEW CONCEPTS: Young talents from the Thế Giới Trẻ (Young World), a leading private drama troupe in HCM City, offer Vietnamese dramas with new concepts to attract young audiences. Photo courtesy of the producer.

By Thu Anh

HCM CITY— Young theatre directors of HCM City are working to introduce their art in a southern style with a series of shows in HCM City this summer.

They offer southern dramas with new concepts using musicals, cải lương (reformed opera) and tuồng (classical drama), two traditional Vietnamese theatre genres that began more than 100 years ago.

Their experimental productions are designed to meet the taste of young audiences.

The young talents include Vũ Xuân Trang, Huỳnh Lập and Cao Tấn Lộc.

CLASSIC DRAMAS: Young theatre directors of HCM City are working to preserve and develop Vietnamese drama by using cải lương (reformed opera) and tuồng (classical drama), two traditional genres of Vietnamese theatre which began more than 100 years ago. Photo courtesy of the producer.

Theatre director Trang and his staff from the Hồng Vân Drama Troupe are working on a project offering new versions of western theatrical plays.

His latest work is a Vietnamese version of the Shakespearean tragedy Macbeth.

Written by William Shakespeare in 1603, Macbeth was first staged in London in 1606 and has been restaged innumerable times by leading theatres around the world.

Trang’s version portrays Macbeth, a brave Scottish general who receives a prophecy from a trio of witches that he will become King of Scotland one day.

The tragedy begins to unfold as he murders King Duncan and usurps the throne. He becomes a tyrant as he seeks to protect himself from enmity and suspicion, finally descending into madness and death.

Trang has worked with theatre designers to perfect his production with costumes, choreography, music, lighting and visual effects.

He has cast young talents Quang Huy and Trung Anh, graduates of the HCM City University of Theatre & Cinematography, to play the role of Macbeth, while Chí Cường plays King Duncan.

“I combine a musical and Vietnamese drama together. I hope my art will offer something new and interesting for audiences,” said Trang, who began his career in 2005.

Trang is also working on versions of theatrical works by Molière and Victor Hugo.

New shows by Trang and her actors are being staged during the weekend at the Phú Nhuận Cultural House in Phú Nhuận District.

'A fresh breeze'

Directors Lập and Lộc work for Trương Hùng Minh Drama and Thế Giới Trẻ (Young World), two of the city’s leading private drama troupes.

Both artists want to help their young actors develop their careers, while preserving and bringing Vietnamese dramas closer to young audiences.

“I want to bring a fresh breeze into Vietnamese dramas,” said Lộc, a graduate of the HCM City University of Theatre & Cinematography. “I love performing for youngsters. It encourages me to devote all my love and energy to the stage.”

Lộc’s new play, called Thần Tiên Nổi Điên (Untold Fairy Tales), is scheduled to stage on Sundays starting in July at 125D Cống Quỳnh Street, District 1.

REACHING THE KIDS: Young theatre directors’ experimental productions in southern style are designed to meet the taste of young audiences. Photo courtesy of the producer.

Comic actor and director Lập has worked to offer drama, musical shows and stand-up comedy performances aimed at children and young people.

His art features social issues such as friendship, family and love.

“Our new shows feature quality images, sound and music that provide the audience with wonderful insights about their culture and theatre,” said 30-year-old Lập, who has produced many successful comedic plays on television and social media websites.

In his latest work, Cây Tre Trăm Đốt (The Hundred-Knot Bamboo Tree), Lập combines a musical with cải lương. He also performs a lead role.

Cây Tre Trăm Đốt is about a young and poor farmer who works for a wealthy landowner.

The landowner promises to reward him with a wedding to his beautiful daughter after three years of hard work. When the time comes, the landowner refuses by asking him to find a bamboo tree with one hundred knots in the forest.

The farmer finally uses his clever mind to win the game and takes his bride to go home.

“My young actors and I have worked hard to improve our vocal and performance skills in the hopes that we will renew the art,” said Lập.

The show Cây Tre Trăm Đốt and other productions by artists of the Trương Hùng Minh Drama Troupe are being staged every weekend morning and night at 22 Vĩnh Viễn Street, District 10, from June to August.— VNS