Digital technology can bring spectacular effects to the stage, but the heart of a performance still lies in the artist's talent and emotion. For Vietnam's theaters, the challenge is to embrace innovation without losing their artistic identity.
On October 22, Vietnam's Culture and Arts Magazine hosted a discussion titled "Applying Digital Technology in Performing Arts: Practical Challenges and Emerging Issues", bringing together leaders of performing arts organizations, technology specialists and representatives of training institutions.
Hoang Ha, editor-in-chief of Culture and Arts Magazine, noted that the Vietnamese government has identified performing arts as one of the country's 10 cultural industries.
Hoang Ha, editor-in-chief of Culture and Arts Magazine, speaks at the discussion on digital technology in performing arts.
Politburo Resolution No. 80-NQ/TW on Vietnamese cultural development calls for proactive adaptation to advances in science, technology, innovation and digital transformation in the cultural sector.
Meanwhile, Vietnam's strategy for developing cultural industries through 2030, with a vision to 2045, emphasizes building these industries on scientific and technological achievements, innovation and digital transformation.
According to Ha, achieving these goals requires more than efforts by performing arts organizations and individual artists. It also demands appropriate, coordinated policies and continued attention and support from the government.
Changing mindsets must start with arts leaders
Participants agreed that digital technology should remain a supporting tool, a catalyst that expands the possibilities of artistic expression rather than replacing performers' talent or genuine emotions.
People's Artist Tong Toan Thang, director of the Vietnam Circus Federation, stressed that the first and most important step is a change in mindset among institutional leaders and creative teams.
Following the successful integration of technology into the circus production Son than thuy quai, Thang said technology should be considered from the earliest stages of concept development and scriptwriting, becoming closely intertwined with the rhythm and movement of live performances.
Despite the aging infrastructure of its circular circus stage, the federation has actively experimented with projection-mapping technology to give familiar fairy tales a fresh visual dimension and attract younger audiences back to the theater.
From another perspective, People's Artist Nguyen Tien Dung, director of the Vietnam Puppet Theater, cautioned that technological applications must respect the distinctive characteristics of each art form.
In puppetry, he explained, overly elaborate projected imagery could overwhelm the intricate craftsmanship and delicate beauty of the puppets themselves.
Similarly, People's Artist Trung Hieu, director of the Hanoi Drama Theater, which recently launched the cultural production Huyen tich Ho Guom, said combining live acting with technology or revolving-stage systems requires seamless coordination between performers and technical crews.
Such coordination is essential to enhancing, rather than obscuring, the symbolic and stylized language that characterizes theatrical performance.
Overcoming three barriers to sustainable development
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People's Artist Trung Hieu, director of the Hanoi Drama Theater.
Despite promising creative experiments, digital transformation in Vietnam's theaters continues to face three major obstacles: infrastructure, human resources and funding.
Most theaters struggle with deteriorating facilities, cramped performance spaces and equipment that lacks technical compatibility.
Another pressing challenge is the severe shortage of skilled sound, lighting and information technology technicians. Salaries offered by performing arts institutions are often insufficient to compete with opportunities in the private market, making it difficult to attract and retain qualified professionals.
Dr. Tran Ly Ly, a People's Artist and Party Committee Secretary of the Vietnam Dance Academy, and Dr. Tran Thi Minh Thu of the Vietnam National Institute of Culture, Arts, Sports and Tourism both called for changes in arts education.
They recommended modernizing training methods from the university level, establishing collaborative creative teams that bring together artists and technology engineers, and developing a comprehensive set of digital transformation standards for the performing arts sector.
To address the substantial investment required, public-private partnerships between arts organizations and technology companies were identified as a practical solution.
A representative of VTC Cloud said the company was prepared to work with theaters on online ticketing solutions, the digitization of cultural resources and the development of platforms supporting professional training.
Revenue-sharing arrangements and improvements to the customer experience could help theaters generate more sustainable income and secure resources for reinvestment.
Vu Ngoc Trinh, deputy director of the Department of Electronic Information and Digital Transformation, also emphasized the importance of systematically reviewing and digitizing artistic archives while protecting copyright in the digital environment.
Participants agreed that overcoming these challenges requires coordinated policy reforms and closer cooperation between the public and private sectors.
By combining the government's enabling role, businesses' technological expertise and theaters' willingness to innovate, Vietnam can establish a stronger foundation for its performing arts to develop sustainably and engage confidently with international audiences in the digital era.
Vietnamnet.vn
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