HCM CITY (VNS)— Without financial assistance from the State, HCM City-based Institute for Culture Exchange with France (IDECAF) is growing in popularity due to its children's drama shows Ngay Xua, Ngay Xua (Once Upon A Time).

Tickets are often sold out a week before the shows, which feature fairy tales from Viet Nam and other countries.

"The warm response from young audiences has encouraged us a lot," said Huynh Anh Tuan, manager of Thai Duong Co which runs IDECAF.

IDECAF has staged more than 200 Ngay Xua Ngay Xua shows for several years, according to Tuan.

It is one of several theatres in the city that receive funds from private companies, following the "socialisation model" that the State began years ago to encourage private companies to invest in theatres. After performing at the city's Experimental Theatre Club for a few years, well-known artists including Thanh Loc, Hong Van and Thanh Hoi have opened new theatres of their own. Thanh Hoi's Hoang Thai Thanh Theatre performs romantic dramas targeting young audiences, and the Saigon Theatre, which receives investment from Phuoc Sang, stages comedies.

"This new policy has increased diversity in theatrical activities in the city," a report in the Sai Gon Giai Phong (Liberated Sai Gon) newspaper said. Also popular are the performances at the Phu Nhuan Theatre, which stage comedies and other plays based on traditional stories from the north.

"We stage these dramas because a large number of northern people live in Phu Nhuan and nearby Go Vap districts," said artist Hong Van, manager of the theatre.

The play No Than (Magic Cross-Bow) staged by the theatre carried off a gold medal at the national professional drama theatre festival 2009 held in HCM City. Now that the city's theatre sector has made advancements, the challenge is to find more high-quality scripts, critics say. — VNS