Passion and creativity promote the development of performing arts

In 2024, in parallel with the staging of new art programs, the restoration of plays and excerpts of ancient Cheo to meet the enjoyment needs of the public inside and outside the province, Thai Binh Cheo Theater will gradually digitize the preservation and dissemination of art. From the passion and creativity in the activities of artists, more and more quality products are introduced to the public. This creates favorable conditions for future generations to access, research and preserve art for a long time.

The music and dance program "Returning to the rice fields" by Thai Binh Cheo Theater aims for the national music and dance festival in 2024.

Teaching - learning on the big stage

Since the beginning of the year, artists and actors of Thai Binh Cheo Theatre have organized more than 60 art performances to serve audiences in and outside the province. In order to achieve high quality programs, meeting the cultural enjoyment needs of the people, especially in traditional festival programs in the locality, the Theatre focuses on performing many ancient Cheo plays, bringing Cheo art closer to the audience such as "Luu Binh - Duong Le", "Duyen phan Ba Dao", "Quan Am Thi Kinh", "Noi dau long me"... In addition, there are excerpts of ancient Cheo and Chau Van singing prices. These are all famous Cheo plays, which the Theatre regularly pays attention to restoring. In particular, with the motto of preserving traditional art through people, the Theatre mobilizes the participation of many young artists and actors in ancient Cheo plays and excerpts.

As a young actress trusted to play the main role of Thi Kinh in the ancient Cheo play "Quan Am Thi Kinh", Ms. Le Thi Hong Van (Group 1) said: Over the years, the Theater has always created conditions for young actors to practice and participate in national Cheo actor talent competitions, national stage art and excerpt festivals, Cheo festivals... From the Theater's support for professional development, I have won a gold medal in the national Cheo actor talent competition and a number of awards at competitions and festivals. I find that our greatest advantage now is being able to stand on the same stage with People's Artists and Meritorious Artists who have many years of experience. At the same time, we are directly "held by the hand" by the artists, accompanying us from the stage of receiving the script to every gesture, action, and word on stage so that we closely follow the psychology of the character we are performing. As for the role of Thi Kinh, this is an exemplary female role in ancient Cheo; From my own acting experience, I invested in researching scripts, watching video clips of artists who had performed before, listening to the sharing of artists who had played this role, from which I learned many lessons.

People's Artist Tran Anh Dien, Head of Group 2, Thai Binh Cheo Theater shared: In parallel with mobilizing a team of young actors to participate in the restoration of ancient Cheo plays, recently the Theater has proactively recorded to preserve and promote on network infrastructure the play "Quan Am Thi Kinh", excerpts from "Vo Chong Ong Chai", "Chon Clown". In the coming time, this activity will continue to be carried out. This not only contributes to the preservation and development of artistic heritage but also creates favorable conditions for organizations and individuals who want to learn and research about Cheo art, contributing to promoting and developing tourism in the province from intangible cultural heritage.

People's Artist Quoc Anh and artists from Thai Binh Cheo Theater in the excerpt "Village Chief - Mother Dop" for the audience.

Human resource difficulties

Many good and flexible ways to preserve traditional arts attract the attention and participation of the audience. However, according to Meritorious Artist Nguyen Quang Lai, Deputy Director in charge of Thai Binh Cheo Theater, the theater's current human resources cannot guarantee the staging of large art programs. Regarding the music and dance program "Ve mien lua hat" that the theater recently performed to the art council to serve the national music and dance festival in 2024, the biggest difficulty during the implementation process was human resources. Although it is a music and dance program, in order to meet the number of actors according to the idea of the art creation unit, the theater mobilized all 3 art troupes, including actors currently working in the art forms of cheo and cai luong.

Meritorious Artist Nguyen Quang Lai shared: To carry out this program, the Theater invited famous artists from the central region to support the idea and staging for more than 2 months. The program has 2 orchestral performances that create impressive highlights, "Ripe Rice Season" and "Loi Lo Xuong Pho" with the combination of traditional and modern orchestras, creating a difference compared to previous art programs. However, to complete this concert requires a great effort from the Theater in the limited conditions of human resources for modern orchestras. In addition, the program mobilizes a large number of dancers while the current young human resources cannot meet the demand. The Theater's current wish is to supplement human resources to promptly train, pass on the profession, and ensure the quality of the next generation of artists in all 3 art troupes.

In August 2024, the Prime Minister issued a directive on the development of cultural industries with the goal of promoting cultural capital, creating products and services to meet people's cultural enjoyment needs, contributing to the sustainable development of the country. We believe that with the enthusiasm of generations of artists of Thai Binh Cheo Theater, the professional art stage in Thai Binh will actively contribute to promoting and popularizing good values, commensurate with the potential and advantages of existing intangible cultural heritage.