HCM CITY — Legendary heroes like Thanh Giong (Saint Giong) and Tran Quoc Toan have come to life in dramas and musicals at two kids' festivals that opened in HCM City. The Children Singing and Dance Festival for amateur children performers and Children Drama, Chorus and Musical Festival for professional actors started two month seasons at the end of June.
The HCM City Culture Centre in co-operation with the HCM City Children Culture House organised the festivals as activities for the holidays.
Fourteen dramas and eight musicals featuring the country's historical heroes and events will be performed by thousands child actors across the city.
Tan Binh District's Children Culture House enacted the story of young national hero Tran Quoc Toan who led an army in the second war of resistance of Dai Viet against the Mongol invasion in Duoi Bong Co "Pha Cuong Dich Bao Hoang An" (Fighting under the Flag to Repay the King's Kindness).
Meanwhile, Binh Thanh District's Youth Culture House, brought Saint Giong, who volunteered to fight against foreign invaders when he was three years old, to the stage.
Phan Quoc Huy of Sido Arts Centre under the Binh Thanh District's Youth Culture House said they staged Truyen Thuyet Phu Dong Thien Vuong (The Legend of Saint Giong) because the character was very close to Vietnamese children.
The drama would help children understand more about the country's patriotic tradition and national strength, he said.
The play won the A prize of the festival for proffesional actors. It would be taken to the national meeting of culture sectors organised by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and meetings to discuss the summer activities for children.
The kids also learn about scripts, plot, costumes and staging.
Huy said the professional troupes had been very creative to entertain the kids.
According to the organisers, the two festivals attracted 2,600 children from culture houses across the city to perform in dramas, musicals, singing and dancing.
Children could learn more about the country's history and people's bravery and solidarity to fight enemies and build the country, they said. — VNS