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An act of a traditional Tuong play. Source: Vietnam Tuong Theatre |
The national Tuong (classical drama) is scheduled to take place in Quy Nhon from April 25-30. Head of the organizing board Vuong Duy Bien talks more about the festival
How many Tuong troupes will join the upcoming festival?
There will be seven troupes participating in the event, including Vietnam Tuong Theatre, Da Nang-based Nguyen Hien Dinh Tuong Theatre, Binh Dinh-based Dao Tan Tuong Theatre, and four troupes coming from provinces of Khanh Hoa, Thua Thien-Hue, Thanh Hoa, and HCM City.
They will bring some traditional Tuong play to the festival, aiming to announce their achievements for the Tuong preservation.
Tuong plays which will be performed at the festival must be traditional ones preserved by the Tuong troupes. Do you think this will discourage young artists?
Only traditional Tuong plays which were built before 2008 and were not performed at the 2008’s festival will be accepted at this year’s event. Contemporary plays won’t be permitted to be performed at the festival.
Also, the festival clearly regulates that participating artists must be under 40 and the judge panel will only grade their roles.
The plays’ authors and directors won’t be presented with any prizes as the artists who play a core role in preserving the Tuong art deserve to be honored.
As you said, it’s necessary to popularize the traditional Tuong art and everyone knows that Binh Dinh is the “cradle of Tuong”. It seems that the propagation for the event is given less attention when it takes place in Binh Dinh as Binh Dinh’s people are said to always have love for Tuong. Is this true?
This is partly true but it must be noted that any types of art need audience. A festival is successful only when it attracts a large number of audience.
Artists will have much encouragement if their performance is enjoyed by scores of people. The festival won’t be successful if not many people are interested in its programs.
The Tuong festival taking place in Binh Dinh is expected to attract many people as the province is known as the cradle of Tuong. I think that the Tuong art will gradually become a “brand name” for the province’s tourism.
Similarly, I think that the Cheo (traditional opera) festival should be held in Thai Binh province.
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