The new and privately-owned Nui Nhan Tuong (classical drama) troupe has opened in Phu Yen province’s Tuy Hoa city. (Photo: sankhau.vn) Phu Yen (VNA) - The new and privately-owned NuiNhan Tuong (classical drama) troupe has opened in Phu Yen province’s Tuy Hoa city.
Managed by veteran actor Nguyen Hoa, whohas more than 40 years of experience in the industry, the troupe offers showsaimed at young people.
The troupe includes 24 veteran and youngactors from Phu Yen and the central provinces of Khanh Hoa, Ninh Thuan and BinhThuan.
“We want to develop drama for youth, whocan improve their knowledge about the country’s history, traditional cultureand lifestyle through the art of tuong,” Hoa said.
He said the troupe was also a good chancefor young actors to develop their career. “I believe in the future because Isee many audiences excited about the art,” he said.
In the coming weeks, the troupe will offera series of historical plays, including Pham Cong- Cuc Hoa and Thoai Khanh-ChauTuan, both of which highlight the beauty of Vietnamese women.
The Vietnamese classical drama of "tuong" originated in the 12th century and has developed from a folk art to a royal artin the 17th century.
The art consists of singing and dancingtogether with music, which are highly stylised and filled with symbolism.
Its themes include monarchist loyalty andpatriotic duty, which define the play’s structure, features, language, music,colour, struggles and the personality of the characters.
The art has three performance styles: tuongpho (plays based on old Chinese stories), tuong do (plays featuring historicVietnamese events and national heroes) and tuong hai (comedies about the dailylife of people).
On stage, the artists sometimes wearcostumes weighing up to 10 kilos. They have to have a strong voice to sing anddance at the same time and express the emotions of each character.
Along with traditional arts such as cheo(traditional opera) in the north and cai luong (reformed theatre) in the south, "tuong" has contributed to the spirit and character of the Vietnamese people.
The art, however, is facing a shortage ofyoung and skilled performers.
Le Chuc, a member of the Vietnam Theatre’sAssociation, said that performers in tuong must practise frequently. To performthe movements, artists must use their whole body, from the fingers and elbowsto all of the muscles.
Chuc, who is a tuong actor, said: “Fordramas, movies or the catwalk, amateurs can practise and perform a little bit,but for tuong, you cannot do it if you have not been properly trained."
”Cultural authorities need to invest inproducing talented and young crews if tuong is to truly develop,” he added.
There are only 10 professional tuongtheatres across the country.-VNA
VNA
