Song and dance: Artists from the Viet Bac Theatre of Traditional Music and Dance will perform in a free music and theatre programme that begins next week and ends in late September. — Photo courtesy of Viet Bac Theatre

HCM CITY (VNS) — A free new music programme at theatres, parks, universities, industrial parks and export processing zones in HCM City will be held regularly as part of the city's cultural activities to celebrate the country's Reunification Day on April 30.

The programme, organised by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in co-operation with local authorities, will offer 53 shows beginning next week and ending in late September.

It features several hundred performers from 11 State-owned art troupes in Ha Noi, HCM City and other provinces.

Some of the featured shows include artists from the Viet Nam Circus Union, the Viet Bac Theatre of Traditional Music and Dance, the Viet Nam Opera and Dance Theatre and the Viet Nam Cai Luong (reformed theatre) Theatre.

The Viet Bac Theatre of Traditional Music and Dance, in co-operation with its partner, the Viet Nam Puppetry Theatre, will stage the event called Viet Bac Hoa Chung Khuc Khai Hoan (Singing the Song of Triumph).

The show will feature well-known Kim Dung and Xuan Ai, Quoc Hung, Thuy Dung and Anh Tho.

Songs and dances in praise of love, friendship, family and country, composed by veteran musicians such as Hoang Viet and Tran Hoan, will be featured.

The programme will be held on April 30 at the Sen Hong Stage located in September 23 Park in District 1. It will tour universities and parks every weekend.

The Ha Noi-based Viet Nam Tuong (classical drama) Theatre will also conduct a special tour in the city to feature tuong, a symbolic form of traditional art in central Viet Nam.

During their tour, the artists will perform dozens of extracts from famous traditional plays.

To attract city audiences, actors will combine cai luong, a southern art form, and tuong, by using modern materials on stage.

Songs composed by veteran musicians such as Phan Huynh Dieu and Hoang Viet will be featured.

Tran Thi Anh, a migrant worker of Linh Trung Export Processing Zone, said: "We hope this free programme will entertain us on the holiday, after days of hard work."

Tickets are free at the Department of Culture and Sports at 164 Dong Khoi Street, District 1.

For more information, visit the website: http://www.svhttdl.hochiminhcity.gov.vn — VNS