BẠC LIÊU — More than 50 cải lương (reformed opera) performers across the country will compete in the 2023 National Talented Cải Lương Performers Contest in the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta Province of Bạc Liêu during September 23-30.

The contest is organised by the Performing Arts Department in collaboration with the Việt Nam Theatre Artists Association, and the province’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The performers are coming from state-owned and private art troupes in HCM City, Hà Nội, and southern provinces, such as the Trần Hữu Trang Cải Lương Theatre and the Việt Nam Cải Lương Theatre.

Among them are winners at prestigious contests such as Meritorious Artist Lê Trung Thảo, and Nguyễn Văn Khởi, who won top prizes at national cải lương contests such as the national Trần Hữu Trang Talented Cải Lương Performers Contest, and the Chuông Vàng Vọng Cổ (Golden Bell) Contest, an annual cải lương singing competition held by HCM City Television.

Thảo, a performer and director of the Trần Hữu Trang Cải Lương Theatre, will play a leading role in the historical play Dấu Ấn Giao Thời (Transition Milestone) written by playwright Triệu Trung Kiên, portraying the life of King Lý Huệ Tông (1194 – 1226), the eighth king of the Lý Dynasty, who ruled the country from 1210 to 1224.

The artist has offered training for young talented artists such as Nhã Thi, Thy Nhung and Hoàng Oanh. He has also directed many plays such as Lụy Tình Vương Nữ (Devoted Love), and Hoa Đất (Flower of Land).

Meanwhile, Khởi will play Lê Hồng Phong in Câu Hò Đất Mẹ (Folk Song of Homeland), featuring the couple Lê Hồng Phong and Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai, two famous revolutionaries in the anti-French war.

The 2023 National Talented Cải Lương Performers Contest will take place at Cao Văn Lầu Theatre in Bạc Liêu City. — VNS