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Hats off: A scene from the drama Changing Feelings by the Tuoi Tre (Youth) Theatre, one of only a handful of successful theatres in the north. — VNA/VNS Photo Tran Thanh Giang |
HA NOI — Theatres in Ha Noi have been finding it difficult to get sponsorship or support themselves through ticket sales without funding from the State – unlike their southern counterparts.
The Culture, Sports and Tourism Ministry has said theatres in the north would no longer be part-subsidised by the State from the end of this year, but few have succeeded in finding alternative funding.
Theatres have been criticised for failing to attract large audiences because of poor-quality scripts and in adequate facilities.
According to Le Tien Tho, deputy minister of culture, sports and tourism, theatre owners were inexperienced at attracting audiences or promoting themselves – which is another reason for their failure to find private funding.
Theatres have found it harder than cinemas to co-operate with private or other sectors to do business," he said.
Tho added that even successful private theatres in HCM City, such as IDECAF and Phu Nhuan Drama Theatre, had succeeded in only finding short-term investment – from the artistes themselves.
"They will need long-term investment to stay open," he said.
Tho also said that even though the majority of Viet Nam's most popular theatrical artists lived in Ha Noi, their shows still struggled to attract local audiences.
Some theatres in the capital have succeeded to some extent in going private, such as the Kim Ma Cheo Theatre, Ha Noi Cheo Theatre and Thang Long Puppetry Theatre.
The Ha Noi Cheo Theatre, on Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street, one of the first small stages to open in Ha Noi, is popular with both local residents and foreign tourists.
Tuoi Tre Theatre, which stages performances at Thanh Nien Cinema, almost always succeeds in attracting an audience of 150 for each show.
The Thang Long Puppetry Theatre and the Central Puppetry Theatre also manage to attract decent-sized audiences.
Meanwhile, the Ha Noi Cai Luong (Reformed Opera) Theatre has attracted enough sponsorship to stage free performances. Before each show, company representatives are urged to sponsor the theatre.
The Central Pop Music Theatre used a 3,800sq.m plot close to Hoan Kiem Lake to set up a so called "Space for Vietnamese Culture". It hosts musical events and exhibitions. It is also home to the Luc Thuy Restaurant and a souvenir shop.
Artistes can rent out space to put on shows, said Tran Binh, director of the theatre.
The Ministry has hailed the work of the Youth and the Central Pop Music theatre as models in finding alternative fundings.
Meanwhile, in HCM City, successful venues include the Small Stage 5B, on Vo Van Tan Street, which is run by the local artists' association; Sai Gon Drama, which is run by Phuoc Sang Entertainment; IDECAF, run by Anh Duong Company; and Phu Nhuan Drama Stage, owned by Van Tuan Company. — VNS