Inspiring: A scene from Lo Lem va Hoang Tu, the first play in the summer vacation season of children's theatre. — Photo phunuonline.com

HCM CITY (VNS) — Two plays Lo Lem va Hoang Tu (Cinderella and the Prince) and Nang Cong Chua Di Lac (The Princess Gets Lost) kicked off a summer season of children's plays in Ho Chi Minh City.

Beginning the season with two plays sent a strong message, this year is a break from the past. The kid's summer programme was sorely lacking last year, but this year there will be plenty of productions to choose from.

Last Friday the opening of Cinderella and the Prince brought huge crowds to the Hoang Thai Thanh Theatre; free tickets for children under 1.1m also helped.

Cinderella and the Prince stays largely true to the original story, but its spiced up ending was a creative and surprising addition. The performance was also interactive with performers breaking the third wall and engaging with the young audience.

According to actor Thanh Hoi, these kinds of interactions help create meaningful and educative experiences for the kids.

The play will be performed every Saturday and Sunday at the Hoang Thai Thanh theatre until the end of July.

Inspired by both Cinderella and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, IDECAF theatre will premiere a new play, The Princess Gets Lost, as part of the theatre's children's play series, Ngay Xua Ngay Xua (Once Upon a Time). The series performs regularly every summer holiday and mid-autumn day's festival.

"A lot of investment went into the Princess Gets Lost costumes, music, set and development because we want to create a memorable fairy space for children," director Vu Minh said in an interview with Tien Phong (Vanguard) newspaper.

The play also draws on all of IDECAF theatre's talent, including renowned actors like Thanh Loc, Huu Chau and young up-and-coming actors.

Many have already booked tickets for this Friday's premiere in anticipation of what will be a big production.

The play will be performed every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from May 22 to July 5.

Despite the usual big theatre productions, many other theatres are putting on their own smaller productions for children during the summer vacation.

A first time for the young theatre, the Sao Minh Beo theatre company will showcase Nu Than Mat Trang (The Moon Goddess) on Saturday for National Children's Day. Actor and director Minh Beo said that the play contains many educational messages.

Familiar fairy characters will directly instruct the young audience in important life lessons like how to distinguish between good and bad, and what love for family means.

The circus located in Gia Dinh Park in Go Vap District will also entertain children this summer with a puppet play about the long-nosed wooden boy Buratino. The performance will use singing, dancing, puppetry and magicians to create a lively and colorful atmosphere.

Other theatres will also take part in the season of children's plays.

Sen Viet Theatre will stage Chuyen Tinh Hoa Sim (Love Story of Violet Myrtle Flower) and The Gioi Tre Theatre with Ten Trom Thanh Bat Da (The Thief of Baghdad). — VNS