CẦN THƠ — The 2024 National Cải Lương (reformed opera) Festival will open in Cần Thơ City on October 25.

The biennial event is organised by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in co-operation with the Cần Thơ People’s Committee. 

It attracts more than 1,500 artists from 30 private and State-owned traditional art troupes and theatres across the country.

The artists offer 34 shows featuring cải lương, a traditional art form originating from the South over 100 years ago. 

Highlighted performances include historical plays by young artists from HCM City. 

Young directors Hoàng Hải and Dương Khôn will show off their art in new productions using experimental concepts in structure, conversation and directing style. 

Hải and his actors come from the Trần Hữu Trang Cải Lương Theatre, one of the South’s leading art troupes. 

They have worked on the play called Người Mang Chín Án Tử (Nine Death Sentences) about the Nguyễn dynasty in the 19th century. 

The 90-minute drama depicts the life of Field Marshal Lê Văn Duyệt, who was the Governor of Gia Định Citadel (later Sài Gòn and now HCM City) between 1820 and 1832. 

FM Duyệt instructed southern people to dig the Vĩnh Tế Canal linking the provinces of the Mekong River Delta region. The canal helped local people develop their farms and businesses.

“I will bring a new taste of cải lương to serve young audiences at the festival,” said the play’s director Hải.  

Another play is Truyền Tích Cổ Loa (The Legend of Cổ Loa Citadel), a production based on Vietnamese folk tales.

The work is staged by director Khôn and his staff from the HCM City University of Theatre and Cinematography. 

It tells stories about King An Dương Vương, who defeated the last of the Hùng Kings in 257 BCE and established the kingdom of Âu Lạc, choosing the site of Cổ Loa as his capital (now the citadel is a unique tourist destination located in Hà Nội). 

“Through the festival, we hope to find opportunities to develop our professional career and draw young audiences back to cải lương as well,” said the play’s director Khôn, adding that he will try his best to perfect his debut at the festival.  

The 2024 National Cải Lương Festival will close at the Cần Thơ City Centre of Culture in Ninh Kiều District on November 15. Gold and silver medals will be presented to the best plays, best directors, and best female and male artists. – VNS