Recently, traditional theatrical activities in Da Nang have been quite bustling, with Tuong (classical drama) and ‘bai choi’ (singing while acting as playing cards) attracting a large number of domestic and foreign audience. The good sign affirms the efforts of units operating in traditional theatrical art on the journey to preserving and promoting the special art form.

Artists and actors of the Da Nang-based Nguyen Hien Dinh Tuong Theater perform in the Tuong Street programme. Photo: X.D

Happy busyness

Da Nang is a land with many forms of folk arts such as Tuong, ‘ba trao’ (dancing and singing local traditional folk songs), ‘bai choi’, and ‘Dong Dao’ (Children's Songs), all creating a rich, multi-layered and diverse cultural address.

Among them, ‘Tuong’ and ‘Bai Choi’ are the two most popular forms, deeply imprinted in the people's subconscious. In addition to the prosperity of tourism, in recent months, traditional outdoor art stages have drawn much attention from both locals and visitors.

As usual, every Saturday and Sunday, the city’s Cultural and Cinema Center organises performances of ‘bai choi’ and traditional musical instruments in the southern area of the eastern bank of the Rong (Dragon) Bridge.

A Tuong street programme, the first of its kind in Da Nang, takes place at the eastern end of the Han Bridge every Sunday evening.

Despite free outdoor programmes, they are prepared meticulously and methodically.

In addition to performing on stage along the eastern bank of the Han River, the artists of the city-based Nguyen Hien Dinh Tuong Theater are also busy with many art programmes at the theater, and cultural and tourist programmes across the city.

Since late 2022, the Nguyen Hien Dinh Tuong Theater has maintained the traditional Vietnamese arts programme entiled ‘The Heritage Road’ at the Da Nang International Airport.

Director of the Nguyen Hien Dinh Tuong Theater Tran Ngoc Tuan said that each show will last 30 minutes with the participation of about 20 artistes. The arts programme takes place every Thursday and Saturday. After building and selling the copyright to the airport, the theater has additional funding to reinvest, build other art programs as well as improve the lives of artistes.

“Promoting Tuong at the airport is very effective, creating a good impression on international tourists and foreign news agencies. From the effect of this programme, hotels in Da Nang have also connected with us to bring this form of traditional arts to their guests" Mr. Tuan noted.

Gradually filling in the gaps

The fact that more audiences are showing their keen interest in the traditional art stage can be said to be a good sign. However, in the overall effort to preserve and promote this special art form, many related factors are needed. One important thing is to have a team of people working in the theater field who are truly professional and dedicated. However, for a long time, some important positions in that team such as script writers/adapters, directors, stage musicians and designers are still quite modest.

Therefore, the opera stage in Da Nang still lacks great works that have local imprints and are popular with the public. Every time, Nguyen Hien Dinh Tuong Theater stages a grand opera or a large-scale art programme, it still has to find crews and authors in other localities, mainly Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Mr. Tran Ngoc Tuan said that the theatre currently has a total of 51 artistes and musicians. Over 10 people of them are People's Artists and Meritorious Artists, whilst the rest are young, well-trained actors and musicians.

To gradually fill the gap in the team of script writers/adapters and directors, the theater currently has Meritorious Artist Phan Van Quang, a director with 7 years of experience, who has staged about 10 performances for the unit's Tuong excerpts.

Besides, thanks to the municipal government's support, the theater has been promptly supplemented with 12 staff members, who are well-trained young actors from the Ha Noi University of Theater and Cinema.

Another equally important issue is the stage script. In late 2022, the Theater Artists Association coordinates with the municipal Union of Literature and Art Associations to print and release 2 booklets called "Zone 5 folk song script" and "Bai choi and Tuong".

Till date, these two works have been transferred to district-level cultural and sports facilities and schools.

Reporting by KHOI NGUYEN - Translating by M.DUNG