VietNamNet Bridge – Three dramas by veteran directors of Hanoi that deal creatively with social issues were recognised with top awards at the National Drama Festival that closed on Wednesday at the Quan Doi (Military) Theatre in HCM City.

Young actors perform in Bao To Truong Son (Storms on the Truong Son Mountain Range), a play focuses on young soldiers fighting in the mountains during the anti-American war. The play won Golden Award for Best Play at the two-week National Drama Festival that closed in HCM City on Wednesday. — Photo courtesy of the organisers

People’s Artist Anh Tu of the Viet Nam Drama Theatre and People’s Artist Hoang Tien Dung of the Ha Noi Drama Theatre won Gold Medal awards for Best Play at the festival’s winning award ceremony held by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s Department of Performing Arts.

Tu’s Bao To Truong Son (Storms on the Truong Son Mountain Range), a play focusing on young soldiers fighting in the mountains during the anti-American war, was a hit smash with both the jury and audiences at the two-week festival.

The play features the life and love of Diem Le, a female doctor, during and after the war.  

Director Tu employed young talents from the Viet Nam Drama Theatre, including Khanh Linh, Quynh Hoa and To Dung, to play leading roles.

“Our young staff offered a new trend on war, a very old topic, and theatre lovers accepted their style,” said Tu, adding that audiences will come to the theatre if high-quality shows are offered.  

Tu’s colleague, Dung, prefers contemporary art forms. His play, Vung Lanh (Cold Zone), which deals critically with social issues, won the jury’s approval.

The works starred veteran actors including Meritorious Artists Tien Loi and Cong Ly.

The Ha Noi Drama Theatre spent a lot of efforts on using beautiful costumes and dazzling sound and light effects for the play.

Director Nguyen Si Tien’s Hoa Cuc Xanh Tren Dam Lay (Green Chrysanthemum on Marsh) is a new version of the same play written by famous scriptwriter, author and poet Luu Quang Vu in the 1980s.

“Vu’s work brings messages that still alive today,” Tien said.

He worked hard to rewrite and direct his versions to meet the taste of young audiences. The play attracted more than 500 guests last weekend.   

Meritorious Artist and director Tran Minh Ngoc of HCM City’s Hero Film Company, received a Golden Awards for Best Play.  

Ngoc’s Tieng Giay Dem (SFootsteps at Night), written by Le Chi Trung, features family issues in modern life.

The play also brought home Gold Prize for Best Director and Best Scriptwriter, and two Gold Medals for best actresses.

"I received a lot of support from my colleagues, who turned down good contracts from private drama troupes in the city to join my play," said Ngoc.

The judges’ panel said that this year, they took into consideration both the quality and commercial appeal of the entries.

Le Quy Hien, a member of the festival’s organising board, said: "The festival plays by both State-owned and private theatres were serious and dealt with major issues instead of merely focusing on entertainment."

The contest attracted 27 plays in various categories, produced by State-owned and private theatres nationwide. 

Source: VNS