VietNamNet Bridge – A private troupe specialising in cai luong (reformed opera), a traditional art in southern Vietnam, in Kien Giang Province’s Rach Gia District is holding performances and offering free training to youth.

Young actors of the Thanh Nam Cai Luong Troupe work hard to lure young audiences back to the traditional art form. — Photo Thanh Hiep

The Thanh Nam Troupe has travelled around the region offering interactive shows staged by cai luong stars of the region, including People’s Artist Le Thuy, Thanh Ngan and Que Tran.

“Our performances provide local people with the unique art of cai luong. The audiences learn how the artists play the music, sing and dance a traditional tune," said Thanh Nam, 65, owner and head of the troupe. “To guarantee ticket sales for our shows, we have invited famous artists of HCM City to play leading roles.” 

Nam often uses two cai luong stars, who perform together with his actors, to attract fans to his troupe’s show. 

Nam, who is also a cai luong actor, knows the taste of audiences, particularly youth, and brings what they want to see on stage.

In his latest play staged at the Nguyen Trung Truc Temple last month, Chuyện Nhà Chuyện Làng (Village’s Stories), a production about family issues written by Nam, People’s Artist Le Thuy of HCM City was one of the guest performers.

The participation of Thuy, a star of cai luong for more than 50 years, helped tickets sell out quickly.  

Using her strong voice and dancing to great effect, Thuy impressed the audiences about the challenges, hopes and dreams of people living in southern provinces. She also helped Nam’s actors to improve their performance. 

Thuy and her students, including famous actresses Thoai My and Thanh Ngan, have worked with Nam’s troupe to perform for people living in remote and poor villages. 

They have visited villages in Kien Giang and neighbouring provinces, including An Giang, Bac Lieu and Ca Mau.

“I love working with Nam’s actors, who are young and dynamic,” said 71-year-old Thuy, adding that she saw the love for cai luong from the eyes of the performers. “I think cai luong is alive through rural artists like Nam’s in Cuu Long.”  

Nam’s troupe has 20 full-time young actors and musicians, who were farmers before they took to the stage.

He has invited veteran actors to offer free training for his actors.

Nam said his troupe was keen on exposing youth to cai luong, which is part of their heritage that is hundreds of years old.

"I told my actors that you should work harder because your art gives young audiences the opportunity to understand and appreciate the country’s traditional culture and theatre," he said.  

Nam spent 40 years working as the director of Kien Giang People’s Cai Luong Theatre, one of the region’s leading traditional art troupes.

His theatre offered several hundreds of shows per year in the 1980s and 90s when cai luong was the most popular art in the region. Last year, the theatre staged only 70 shows.

“The region now has 13 cai luong troupes. Some troupes, such as Anh Hong Troupe of Tra Vinh and Chuong Vang Troupe of Soc Trang, closed after failing to meet the taste of audiences,” said Nam.

“Cai luong is facing harder challenges to exist, as cinemas, concerts and TV shows have dominated the market. The art should be developed in a different way from the very old one,” he said.  

Nam is one of the region’s few professional performers who have kept the art form original on the stage. He has worked with local authorities, State-owned and private organisations to professionally develop his troupe’s business.

His troupe signed a contract with the province’s People’s Committee to offer outdoor shows in traditional festivals this year. The troupe will also offer seven small shows staged for labourers at companies and factories in the province.

“Thanks to artists like Nam, cai luong will remain alive,” said Thuy. 

Source: VNS