New shows for children hit the stage

New show entitled Sơn Tinh Thủy Tinh by Việt Nam Youth Theatre. Photo Nguyễn Bình

HÀ NỘI — Theatres in Hà Nội are busy launching new shows ahead of International Children's Day on June 1 and the upcoming summer holidays. This season's offerings are diverse and exciting as theatres continue to invest in quality programming.

Việt Nam Youth Theatre – the only theatre for children in Hà Nội – has three shows including The Blue Bird, Mermaid Dreams and the new Sơn Tinh Thủy Tinh (Mountain Deity and Water Deity).

Sơn Tinh Thủy Tinh includes a play, singing and dancing. The 60-minute show is directed by Lý Chí Huy.

“The show tells a story about a fight between Sơn Tinh and Thủy Tinh,” said Huy. “It highlights the spirit of solidarity and our ancestors' work to create dikes and prevent floods. It also conveys the message that individual selfishness harms innocent people."

Sơn Tinh Thủy Tinh is a folk tale familiar to many generations of Vietnamese. It is a legend that attempts to explain the natural phenomenon of the monsoon season.

The Blue Bird and Mermaid Dreams came to the audiences last season, but the artists have changed some details to make them more attractive.

Also drawing on Vietnamese folk culture, Lệ Ngọc Theatre has just performed a new play entitled Tấm Cám.

The play is by Singaporean director Chua Soo Pong, who adjusted characters from the folk tale.

God does not appear in the show. Instead, every time the main character Tấm meets difficulties, her mother shows up to help.

"I want to highlight the Vietnamese concept that the mother is always with her children, even if she died she always protects and supports her children," said Chua.

Both Thăng Long Puppet Theatre and Việt Nam Circus Federation make good use of another character from a folk tale, Uncle Tễu, in different and interesting shows.

In Thăng Long Puppet Theatre's Children Are All, Uncle Tễu will bring the children into the magical world of Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs.

Artists from the Việt Nam Circus Federation will perform acrobatics, trapeze acts, and feats with animals in The Adventure of Uncle Tễu.

New Land of Green Forest Boy by Việt Nam Puppet Theatre conveys a message of environmental protection. Sờn Rách Hero by Việt Nam Drama Theatre creates a romantic world as a hero saves beauty on a colourful stage.

Star Galaxy Theatre will perform the dance Peter and the Wolf  while Việt Nam National Symphony Orchestra will also show this story in music.

“Performing for children always requires hard work,” said People's Artist Nguyễn Tiến Dũng, director of the Việt Nam Puppet Theatre.

“The shows are not only fairy tales, folk stories and history, but also about the issues of life in which children are interested.” — VNS