A journey through the history of Vietnamese theatre

Considered the first form of Vietnamese performing arts, theatre has endured numerous challenges throughout history of the country. It has seen glory days, has faced and embraced massive changes of the ages. How this form of arts has survived through all that ups-and-downs, and how can we, the youth generation, help prolong the life of Vietnamese theatre?

The prelude of theatre in Vietnam

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Vietnamese traditional theatre originated in the 10th century. After the country was free from the 1000 years of Northern domination, the Dinh dynasty began to develop the country in all aspects, fostering the growth of various art forms, including stage performances.

Chèo - the first traditional stage performance (Source: Báo điện ảnh Việt Nam)

With the emergence of Chèo - the first form of traditional theatre, there came other art forms, such as Water puppetry (Múa rối nước), and Tuồng. Unique in their storytelling techniques and enchanting staging, these art forms mesmerized audiences, becoming an integral part of Vietnamese spiritual life. Together, these diverse forms of expression enriched the cultural landscape, fostering a deep sense of pride and identity among the Vietnamese people.

Water puppetry - an unique performance with long tradition (Source: Báo điện tử chính phủ)

Tuồng - a fascinating traditional art form(Source: Hanoimoi)

Continuous evolution against all adversity

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As Vietnamese territory expanded, traditional stage performances of various ethnic groups were introduced and adapted to cater to local needs. Several notable performances are Chăm's dance and oratorio, Dù Kê performance of the Khmer people, and the mask dance of the Dao people.

Dù Kê - Khmer's traditional performance that strikes audience with awe (Source: Vietnamnet)

Unfortunately, folk stage performance was banned under the Le Dynasty. This largely hindered the development of traditional theatre, but surprisingly, folk theatre still thrived against adversity, transcending all the boundaries and blooming in the limelight.

During those years, new art forms emerged, and existing stage performances like Chèo or Tuồng advanced to a new level, reaching their heyday.

From the 19th century onward, Vietnamese traditional theatre continued its development, with many new types of theatre performance like Hue Royal Music, Đờn ca tài tử and later, cải lương and folk drama (Kịch dân ca). Social unrest could not harness the growth of theatre, evident through the blooming of these new, fascinating performances.

The struggle in the modern age

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Sadly, recent decades have witnessed the fall of traditional theatre. Advancements in technology create new forms of entertainment, laying the foundation for modern arts, while international integration has granted Vietnamese citizens opportunities to explore artworks from other countries. That allure of modernity has amazed people and also created a diverse dimension of cultural expression. Amidst this flux, the essence of traditional theatre gradually falls into the abyss of obscurity.

A picture featuring a Tuồng performer, saying this art is falling into oblivion (Source: Báo Công an Nhân dân)

Seeing the threats, government has developed plans to maintain this precious part of Vietnamese culture. From reviving dramas that dated back to several centuries ago to organizing interactive and educative activities to help traditional theatre reach more people, they are striving to preserve this essence of culture. Private organizations have also contributed greatly to the conservation of this art form through various means.

As a culture lover who treasures the authenticity of traditional performance, I believe that preservation action is imperative to ensure that future generations can still marvel at its beauty and appreciate its profound significance in shaping our national identity.

"Lưu Bình - Dương Lễ" - a Chèo performance by modern artist from the Thai Binh Chèo Theatre (Source: Sở Văn hóa - Thể thao và Du lịch Thái Bình)

References: Wikipedia, Vietnamnet newspaper, To Quoc newspaper, Hanoimoi newspaper, Báo điện tử chính phủ, Báo Công an Nhân dân

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