Two meaningful summer months with the art of hát bội

The public, especially the youth, will have a more meaningful Summer when they learn and practice hát bội – a long-standing traditional theatrical art form of Vietnam.

With more than three centuries of formation and development, the art of hát bội (also known as tuong or hát bộ) has fostered unique aesthetic values, reflecting the depth of humanistic aspirations of traditional Vietnamese culture.

Information about the talk show “Ca bien phan hanh”. (Source: Hieu Van Ngu - Cultura Fish)

In order to build a series of summer programs to learn about Vietnamese traditional opera for audiences who love traditional performances, Hieu Van Ngu Organization (Cultura Fish) and Ho Chi Minh City Opera House will co-organize a series of talk shows and introductory workshops to enjoy opera from June 14 to August 10, 2024.

Training people to enjoy hát bội

Accordingly, with the goal of becoming a bridge for audiences to learn about hát bội systematically, the series of 5 talk shows “Ca đổi Phấn Hành” with the form of lectures combined with illustrated performances will be open conversations about the art of hát bội.

The audience will have the opportunity to listen to researcher Vuong Hoai Lam of Hieu Van Ngu (Cultura Fish) tell stories about Vietnamese theater, past and present, peeling away each layer of the 'code' of the art of hát bội from the characteristic showy-conventional style, expressive techniques through face painting, costumes, singing-speaking, music to literary works that shine with ethical values ​​in the hát bội script system.

Along with this interesting presentation, the audience will enjoy performances by the Ho Chi Minh City Opera House, including blessing acts in the grand ceremony, classic acts such as Ho Nguyet Co turning into a fox, Chau Sang ta Thanh Long, Tong Tuu O Hac Loi ...

In particular, the final talk show will be a performance of the script San Hau - a masterpiece of Vietnamese opera with full featured chapters and narration and explanation from the researcher.

Practice singing

In addition to the talk show, the program will organize “Hat Boi 101” workshops, giving the audience the opportunity to interact and practice basic Hat Boi to feel the beauty of this centuries-old art form.

It is known that the workshop "Hat Boi 101" was successfully organized by Hieu Van Ngu at the Asian Youth Theater Festival in 2023, proving the attraction of Hat Boi art not only to domestic but also foreign audiences.

With each workshop, the audience can enjoy the performance and practice the basic choreography that makes up the characteristics of hát bội.

The workshops are performed and instructed by professional actors from the Ho Chi Minh City Opera House, promising to inspire audiences with new inspirations from traditional performing arts.

Practicing hát bội choreography not only brings joy when getting closer to traditional performing arts but also helps one understand more about one's own body movements, gain more creative inspiration as well as "apply" hát bội to modern contexts.

Established in 2020, and having cooperated with domestic and foreign partners such as ICHCAP-UNESCO, British Council Vietnam, Asian Youth Theatre Festival (AYTF), Hieu Van Ngu (Cultura Fish) is a group that researches, applies and creates culture and art with a multi-faceted approach to all fields.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/hai-thang-he-y-nghia-cung-nghe-thuat-hat-boi-274832.html