Eleven troupes are joining the annual event, which aims to highlight advancements in traditional opera and create a chance for professional artists to meet and collaborate.
According to the organisers, the troupes should perform theatrical works staged since 2016 which have not been performed at any contests or professional festivals hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Vietnam Theatrical Artists Association, the Ministry of National Defence or the Ministry of Public Security. No foreign scripts will be accepted.
The jury will reward creativity and innovation in playwriting, directing, music, fine art design, costumes and acting based on the principles of classical drama and traditional opera.
The jury will give an Excellent Prize to the best author, director, musician and painter.
After the festival in downtown Thanh Hoa City, the art troupes will also perform five free shows for locals in various districts of the province.
Meritorious Artist Truong Hai Tho, deputy director of Thanh Hoa Traditional Arts Theatre said the organisation of the festival aims to learn from colleagues all over the country.
“In the past few years, we have confronted various challenges, especially the lack of young talents and young artists to hand down the profession. The human force of classical drama art is very limited. We bring that worry to the festival,” he said.
This has been a longstanding difficulty for professional traditional art troupes across the country.
Popular theatres like Thanh Hoa Traditional Arts Theatre, HCM City Classical Opera Theatre, Nguyen Hien Dinh Classical Drama Theatre (Da Nang), Dao Tan Classical Drama Theatre (Qui Nhon City), Binh Dinh Bai Choi Folk Theatre (Binh Dinh Province), Quang Nam Opera Theatre (Quang Nam Province) will each perform one play at the festival.
Vietnam Classical Drama Theatre (Hanoi), Khanh Hoa Traditional Arts Theatre (Khanh Hoa Province), Hue Royal Art Troupe (Hue), Nghe Region Folk Singing Preservation and Development Centre (Nghe An Province), and Hue Opera Art Troupe (Hue) will each perform two plays.
The artists will also discuss how to preserve and develop the long history of theatrical art and how to update the art form to fit the tastes of modern audiences.
