The HCM City Theatre of hat boi is in serious need of young, professional artists. — Photo courtesy of nld.com.vn

The HCM City Theatre of hat boi (classical Vietnamese opera) and other art theatres are in serious need of young artists who can pursue the profession.

Traditional art forms are at a disadvantage because they target niche audiences, while other forms of entertainment can bloom.

About four young artists who currently work in the city's hat boi theatre cannot apply to become official staff at the theatre due to a lack of prescribed qualifications.

According to Người Lao Động (Labourer) newspaper, artists in cai luong (reformed theatre), chèo (a form of satirical musical theatre, often encompassing dance, and traditionally performed by Vietnamese peasants in northern Vietnam) and bong roi (a dance and singing art form performed at mother goddess worship rituals in southern Vietnam) have experienced similar issues.

This has created anxiety among many artists who have been pursuing the profession for a long time, including Meritorious Artist Trong Phuc from Tran Huu Trang Cai Luong Theatre.

Even though he has won many medals at professional cai luong competitions, he has not been recognised as an official, permanent staff of the theatre.

Meanwhile, People’s Artist Tran Ngoc Giau, who is president of the HCM City Theatre Association, said that new regulations require artists to be an official staff in order to have a salary evaluation.

“If an artist is not on the list of official staff, a theatre has to pay them from the off-budget revenue. The preservation of traditional art intertwined with rigid regulations has posed a serious barrier to the formation of future traditional art performers,” he said.

For decades, many young artists have been trained from a very young age by experienced performers. Young artists cannot simply wait until 18 years old to enter specialised art schools, then take another four years studying, because many young artists can become main artists at the age of 15 or 16.

“The HCM City University of Theatre and Cinema does not have a major in hat boi because no one is currently pursuing this form of art. So it is impossible to have a degree in this classical opera genre,” director Le Dien, director of Phuong Nam Art Theatre, said.

He added that "the Government must have a special regime to encourage young artists to stay in the field".

Talent hunt

Experts said that the traditional art of bóng rỗi singing and dancing is on the edge of extinction. Although it is a part of worship ceremony in the South, this ritual practice has attracted the public’s attention due to its spiritual and entertainment values. 

Bong roi artist Ly Thi Nam from Tien Giang Province said that she started her career at the age of eight and learned bong roi art genre from seven teachers.

“I know some young talents who love this traditional form of art but the low income has discouraged them from pursuing the performing career professionally,” Nam said.

People’s Artist Tran Minh Ngoc said it is important to invest in human resources for these traditional drama forms before they become extinct.

Director Le Dien added that relevant authorities need to hunt for and discover new talents, even in remote areas. 

Preservation of the traditional art forms must be a priority, experts said.  VNS

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