Body and soul: A scene from Hon Truong Ba, Da Hang Thit (Truong Ba's Soul in a Butcher's Body) performed by artists from the Viet Nam Drama Theatre. — Photo Courtesy of Viet Nam Drama Theatre

HA NOI (VNS)— Theatre lovers in the capital will have a chance to see operas and dramas written by a former colossus of the theatrical world, playwright Luu Quang Vu (1948-88), at a festival featuring his works in Ha Noi next week.

There will be more than a dozen presentations of his drama, cheo (traditional opera) and cai luong (renovated opera) at several venues by 12 art troupes from north and central Viet Nam from September 9 to 16.

The shows will take place at the Cong Nhan Theatre, 42 Trang Tien Street, Tuoi Tre (Youth) Theatre, 11 Ngo Thi Nham Street and Dai Nam Theatre, 89 Pho Hue Street.

Tickets are available at the theatre. An award ceremony will be held on September 16 at Cong Nhan Theatre, where organisers will present gold and silver medals to the best actors, plays and directors. At the same ceremony, veteran artists who have made great contributions to Viet Nam's theatrical sector will also be honoured.

Vu died tragically at the age of 40 in a road accident together with his wife, noted poet Xuan Quynh and their son Luu Quynh Tho.

He left behind a colossal literary treasure of hundreds of poems, pieces of prose, theatrical critiques and more than 50 theatrical scenarios.

Most of his works had been staged before he died as he was among the most popular playwrights in 1980s. — VNS