People's Artist Trung Hiếu. Photo courtesy of the Hà Nội Drama Theatre

The Director of the Hà Nội Drama Theatre, People's Artist Trung Hiếu, tells reporter Khúc Hồng Thiện why artistic bravery and being creative are critical to theatre and the performing arts in general.

Inner Sanctum: The Hà Nội Drama Theatre has been going for over 60 years with many imprints. How has it managed this?

Yes, exactly. It has been 63 years. the Hà Nội Drama Theatre was formerly a drama team belonging to the cultural and artistic troupe of the Hà Nội People's Committee. It was established in 1959. In 1965, it was separated to operate independently, becoming the Hà Nội Drama Troupe. In 1993, the Hà Nội City People's Committee decided to upgrade it to the Hà Nội Drama Theatre.

During that time, the theatre has been the home for the growth of many famous artists on the national drama stage, including Meritorious Artists Hoàng Quân Tạo, Trần Vân, Quốc Toàn, and Thanh Tú; and People's Artists Trần Hoạt, Trần Hạnh, Hoàng Cúc, and Hoàng Dũng, as well as many famous young artists today.

The theatre has an artistic style that is appreciated, winning many awards and titles. It is irreplaceable. There is subtlety, elegance and gentlemanliness in acting. There is knowledge of the news, sharpness in politics, and consistency in dramatic style the theatre has built, maintained and developed throughout the years.

Inner Sanctum: Looking back, despite all the joys, there must have been times when you were puzzled by the vitality of the stage.

The 70s and 80s were a brilliant period for the Vietnamese stage, including the Hà Nội Drama Troupe. By the 90s, it was no longer like that; I started working at the theatre then. I thought a lot. Sometimes I wanted to find another job, but I still worried about the stage and was determined to make it develop more.

Inner Sanctum: What are the main difficulties in developing the Hà Nội Drama Theatre?

The themes for good drama are continually researched. However, there has been lack of good, appropriate and dramatic scripts.

For a long time, we performed serious dramas, which were often for publicity, inclined to praise. While the hot issues of society were little covered.

In the 1980s, we produced the famous play Tôi Và Chúng Ta (I and We). By 2003, the play Cát Bụi (Ashes and Dust) also created a great resonance. Since then until now, we have performed the play Cát Bụi continuously every year, with hundreds of performances. In addition, there are other famous plays such as Đứa Con Bị Đánh Cắp (The Stolen Child), Những Mặt Người Thấp Thoáng (Shadowy Faces).

The theatre’s plays must always show the conspicuous issues of society, such as anti-corruption, social evils, family relationships, environmental pollution, and human nature.

Inner Sanctum: Can you share your views on the viewers' needs, especially younger audiences in theatre?

Today, the young audience needs frankness and creativity on the stage. From this perspective, the artist must also have bravery and creative courage. Today, people have a high intellectual level and a high demand for artistic enjoyment, and the stage must meet those requirements to pull people out of their houses, away from the TV and mobile phones. It's a lot more difficult, but it has to be done.

Inner Sanctum: Surely, theatre must also change its approach to the public.

Yes. The theatre's communication strategies must change according to the development and needs of society. The theatre has changed its brand identity and, at the same time, has a clear direction for future development: building a versatile Hà Nội Drama Theatre and making the drama stage the centre. To attract the audience, we must first understand what they like, want and need. We have to put ourselves in the audience's position.

A scene from the play 'Twin Village'. — Photo courtesy of the Hà Nội Drama Theatre

Inner Sanctum: The needs of the public are increasingly diverse. Does the Hà Nội Drama Theatre face any contradictions to deal with this?

No. Because everything always requires two factors: creativity and courage of the artist.

Creativity is a key factor in art. And courage is expressed in "daring to do". Daring to use modern and new scripts. Although highly critical and social content will make many afraid, I think that is the value of modern performing art. A true reflection of social life, showing the truth, goodness, and beauty should be the values for which plays aim at.

The second aspect is daring to change to fit the modern trend. Confidence is good, and style is good. But at the same time, we need to constantly learn and gain experience.

The third aspect is to dare to use the young talent. While we are concerned about how to approach the audience, get a good script, and make the stage attractive, we need to create more opportunities for young artists because they are full of vitality and creativity.

The direction and training of the next generation should be paid more attention. We need to have a broader and stronger view of young people's creativity, thinking and expression. VNS