Bright stage lights, enthusiastic applause from the audience – that is what the public sees after each performance of the artists of the Vietnam Puppetry Theatre. However, few people know that behind those glorious moments is a long and arduous journey, along with silent sacrifices to preserve and promote the traditional art of the nation.
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A scene from the show "Nursery Song" staged and performed by artists from the Vietnam Puppetry Theatre. (Photo: Hong Hanh) |
Art in hardship
Puppetry is a long-standing Vietnamese folk art form that requires not only talent but also perseverance, passion and sacrifice. Under the stage lights, puppeteers seem to immerse themselves in every movement of the puppet. However, few people know that behind those sublime moments are days of arduous training.
The time they spend on their art is not only limited to the hours of performance but also countless hours of practice, sometimes under harsh conditions. To master a move, they may have to repeat it many times, enduring pain, swelling or muscle tension after each long practice session. Every movement, no matter how small, must be absolutely precise, coordinated rhythmically to create a seamless and perfect performance.
For water puppet artists, practicing and performing continuously in a water environment makes the difficulties and challenges even more severe. Especially in winter, they have to soak in cold water, even with protective clothing, the cold still penetrates deep into the skin, chilling to the bone. Therefore, most water puppet artists have problems with bones, joints, respiratory problems and many other occupational diseases.
In the cold weather, the image of artists from the Vietnam Puppetry Theatre wading through water to perform moved many audiences.
The first time she took her child to see the Children's Song show at the Theater, Ms. Nguyen Lan Anh in Cau Giay, Hanoi expressed: "I really admire the artists of the Vietnam Puppetry Theater. Despite the cold weather, the artists still performed enthusiastically, laughing and joking with the audience. Seeing them soak in the water and perform for an hour, I was truly touched by their sacrifice for art ."
Sharing about the difficulties and hardships that puppeteers have to face, People's Artist Nguyen Tien Dung - Director of the Vietnam Puppetry Theatre said that water puppetry is a special art form, closely associated with water. When it rains and is cold, the artists' work becomes even harder.
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The performance “Fox and Duck Catching” by the Vietnam Puppetry Theatre is very popular with children. (Photo: Hong Hanh) |
They have to wade through water and soak in the cold for hours. But no matter how difficult it is, the artists still do not give up their passion. Even though their hands and feet are freezing cold and their clothes are soaked, they still smile and put all their heart into each movement and gesture of the puppets. Because they understand that each performance is an opportunity to promote Vietnamese culture to audiences at home and abroad.
“I am very proud of the artists of the Vietnam Puppetry Theatre. They are not only talented but also have a love for their profession and their audience. In all weather conditions, they always try their best to bring the best performances to the audience , ” People’s Artist Nguyen Tien Dung shared.
Love for traditional art
In the context of traditional art facing fierce competition from many modern forms of entertainment, the artists of the Vietnam Puppetry Theatre still persevere in keeping the passion for their profession, bringing puppetry closer to domestic and international audiences. They constantly innovate and renew scripts and performance methods to suit the trends of the times, while still preserving the soul of folk puppetry.
Over the years, the Theatre has regularly organized performances for children, participated in international art festivals and cultural exchanges with countries around the world. In particular, the Vietnam Puppetry Theatre has brought water puppetry - the quintessence of Vietnam's intangible cultural heritage to 70 countries and territories around the world.
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| Artists of the Vietnam Puppetry Theatre practice diligently regardless of the weather. (Photo: Hong Hanh) |
Despite the hardships and difficulties, when they stand on stage, under the bright lights, they feel the value of those days of sacrifice. Every time they stand before the audience, they not only show their talent but also their pride in their profession, in the traditional values that have been preserved through many generations. Perhaps the greatest joy for the artists of the Vietnam Puppetry Theatre is when they see the audience, especially children, laugh and applaud.
Despite many difficulties, with their love for the profession and dedication, the artists of the Vietnam Puppetry Theatre still work hard day and night to bring the audience colorful and meaningful stories. They not only help the art of puppetry continue to spread but also contribute to preserving the traditional cultural beauty of the nation.
Source: https://baoquocte.vn/nghe-si-roi-nuoc-kho-luyen-de-giu-lua-nghe-thuat-306651.html
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