New shows for children hit the stage

New show entitled Son Tinh Thuy Tinh by Vietnam Youth Theatre. Photo Nguyen Binh

Vietnam Youth Theatre – the only theatre for children in Hanoi – has three shows including The Blue Bird, Mermaid Dreams and the new Son Tinh Thuy Tinh (Mountain Deity and Water Deity).

Son Tinh Thuy Tinh includes a play, singing and dancing. The 60-minute show is directed by Ly Chi Huy.

“The show tells a story about a fight between Son Tinh and Thuy Tinh,” said Huy. “It highlights the spirit of solidarity and our ancestors' work to create dikes and prevent floods. It also conveys the message that individual selfishness harms innocent people."

Son Tinh Thuy Tinh is a folk tale familiar to many generations of Vietnamese. It is a legend that attempts to explain the natural phenomenon of the monsoon season.

The Blue Bird and Mermaid Dreams came to the audiences last season, but the artists have changed some details to make them more attractive.

Also drawing on Vietnamese folk culture, Le Ngoc Theatre has just performed a new play entitled Tam Cam.

The play is by Singaporean director Chua Soo Pong, who adjusted characters from the folk tale.

God does not appear in the show. Instead, every time the main character Tam meets difficulties, her mother shows up to help.

"I want to highlight the Vietnamese concept that the mother is always with her children, even if she died she always protects and supports her children," said Chua.

Both Thang Long Puppet Theatre and Vietnam Circus Federation make good use of another character from a folk tale, Uncle Teu, in different and interesting shows.

In Thang Long Puppet Theatre's Children Are All, Uncle Teu will bring the children into the magical world of Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs.

Artists from the Vietnam Circus Federation will perform acrobatics, trapeze acts, and feats with animals in The Adventure of Uncle Teu.

New Land of Green Forest Boy by Vietnam Puppet Theatre conveys a message of environmental protection. Son Rach Hero by Vietnam Drama Theatre creates a romantic world as a hero saves beauty on a colourful stage.

Star Galaxy Theatre will perform the dance Peter and the Wolf  while Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra will also show this story in music.

“Performing for children always requires hard work,” said People's Artist Nguyen Tien Dung, director of the Vietnam Puppet Theatre.

“The shows are not only fairy tales, folk stories and history, but also about the issues of life in which children are interested.”