Special program of Vietnam Puppetry Theatre celebrates 50 years of national reunification

NDO - On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification Day (April 30, 1975 - April 30, 2025), the Vietnam Puppetry Theatre organizes two large-scale, unique art programs called "Nursery Song" and "Country Echoes".

These are two large-scale, deeply-characterized programs, demonstrating an emotional artistic journey, where the quintessence of traditional Vietnamese culture is vividly recreated through puppetry - a unique folk art form that has left a deep impression on the Vietnamese soul.

In the sacred and proud atmosphere of the national reunification ceremony, the performances recreated the image of a peaceful homeland, arousing patriotism, gratitude and belief in a bright future. Through the talented creativity, passion and enthusiasm of the artists, in a special performance space from the capital Hanoi to the pearl island of Phu Quoc, the two programs contributed to spreading the value of national art, blending the past and present, tradition and contemporary, to a large audience at home and abroad.

The rustic and magical beauty of puppetry.

Taking place at 8pm on April 26 and May 3 at the headquarters of the Vietnam Puppetry Theatre (361 Truong Chinh, Thanh Xuan, Hanoi), the art program "Nursery Song" is elaborately staged, a colorful artistic ensemble, taking the audience on a journey from north to south, where stories, customs, melodies and images of Vietnamese villages appear vividly and realistically.

With the participation of famous artists from the theater's Experimental Art Troupe such as Meritorious Artists: Nguyen Hong Phong, Hoang Dat Hien, Do Thi Kha, Pham Thu Hang, Nguyen Lan Huong, Trinh Thuy Trang, and talented artists such as: Dao Quoc Hung, Nguyen Thu Huong, Ngo Doan Thinh... the program brought to the audience skillful technical performances, expressing the beauty of art and especially the soul, emotions, and deep love for the country and people of Vietnam.

The stage is full of national identity.

Like a landscape painting spanning the length of the country, each performance in the program brought unique cultural slices of each region, from the simplicity of the Northern Delta, the lyricism of the central strip of land, to the generosity of the South. Folk tales, images of buffaloes, banyan trees, wells or the gentle lullabies in the peaceful countryside appeared full of emotion, closeness and depth.

"Nursery Song" and "Country Echo" are meaningful spiritual gifts from the Vietnam Puppetry Theatre to the public on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification. The two programs also contribute to demonstrating the enduring vitality and flexible adaptability of traditional Vietnamese art in modern life.

While recreating cultural memories, "Nursery Song" also has a modern feel, delicately blending traditional music with stage lighting and creative puppetry techniques, making each scene come alive and captivating. The elaborately designed water puppet shows, combined with modernized folk music, contribute to breathing new life into traditional art, helping audiences, especially the younger generation, feel the lasting value and strong vitality of national culture.

The lotus symbol appears in the puppet show.

At the end of each performance, "Nursery Song" leaves in the hearts of the audience not only the echoes of rustic melodies, but also the appreciation for the origin, the pride of the Vietnamese national soul. The program is like an echo of the past resonating in today's life, evoking the desire for a peaceful , prosperous, and eternal country.

The Vietnam Puppetry Theatre's artistic journey to celebrate the country's reunification day continues in the south. The program "Echoes of the Countryside" is held at the A Oi Theatre (Hoang Hon town, Phu Quoc, Kien Giang) on ​​the evenings of April 28, 29 and May 1, from 6pm to 8pm. This is a meaningful choice when bringing traditional art to a famous tourist destination, which not only attracts a large number of domestic tourists but is also a "gateway" to promote Vietnamese culture to the world.

Images of Vietnamese countryside are vivid in every scene.

The program was performed by the Traditional Art Troupe of the theater, bringing together talented artists such as Meritorious Artists: Nguyen The Long, Hoang Thi Kim Thoa, Nguyen Thu Hoan, Meritorious Artist Pham Van Chau; and many other prestigious artists, such as: Vu Thanh Tung, Nguyen Minh Hong, Cao Huyen, Vu Quang Hop... creating a performance space full of poetry, emotion and national pride.

"Echoes of the Countryside" uses the symbolic image of the lotus - the flower that carries the Vietnamese soul - as the red thread running through the performances. The lotus appears both rustic, familiar, and full of vitality. Through the skillful traditional puppetry technique, it honors the noble beauty and national spirit that always rises strongly from the mud of hardship, just like the country and the Vietnamese people have always been resilient in overcoming all hardships to gain independence and peace.

The plays combine many forms of expression to highlight the unique features of Vietnamese ethnic culture.

Village festivals with the sound of drums, busy harvest days with golden rice, mischievous folk games... are recreated by funny puppet characters but imbued with the soul of the countryside. The image of conical hats floating from the land to the water, the graceful dance of Vietnamese women, the sound of Chau Van singing echoing in the night... have woven an artistic world that is both sparkling with tradition and tinged with a breath of modernity.

The special feature of "Country Echo" is the unexpected interaction between puppets and real people on stage, along with modern sound and lighting techniques, creating an open stage space full of emotional depth. The play is not only for enjoyment but also a bridge connecting the past and the present, tradition and creativity. The play is a colorful symphony, a gentle whisper from the soul of the Vietnamese countryside, contributing to the renewal of puppetry art and igniting love for the country in the hearts of every viewer.

The content of the play shows regional cultural identity.

Each art performance recreated the breath of the Vietnamese countryside, where there are the sound of chickens at noon, the folk songs by the river, the silhouette of an old mother, and the green rice fields stretching to the horizon... The audience was moved when they admired the artists' delicate performance skills, reliving the very familiar moments, reminding them of their homeland - the deep, loving, and affectionate origin of every Vietnamese person.

The most important thing for us artists is to relive memories with everyone, love our homeland more and build a better future together. Art is performed on stage but exists in everyone's heart.

People's Artist Nguyen Tien Dung, Director of Vietnam Puppetry Theatre

With "Country Echoes", the stage becomes a vivid memory, where images that seem far away suddenly come back in the music, lights and wooden puppets. Emotions spread not only among Vietnamese people but also moved international visitors by the cultural beauty imbued in every detail of the performance.

The audience excitedly recorded beautiful moments on stage.

People's Artist Nguyen Tien Dung, Director of the Vietnam Puppetry Theatre, emotionally shared: "50 years - half a century - is a proud milestone in the history of the nation, and also an opportunity for each artist like us to look back on our journey in preserving, transmitting and spreading traditional cultural values. With "Nursery Song" and "Echo of the Countryside", we put into it our faith, gratitude and desire to contribute. I believe that art, especially folk art, always has a sacred mission in connecting people with their roots, helping the younger generation understand and be proud of their country. When we see the sparkling eyes of the audience, from children to the elderly, or even foreign tourists following each puppet, each melody... we feel that all efforts are truly worthwhile."

The combination of human and puppet characters.

"Bringing the program to Phu Quoc is a great opportunity to introduce traditional Vietnamese art to international friends. This is a 'golden time' to spread Vietnamese cultural values ​​in the tourism space, when thousands of tourists are flocking to the pearl island during the April 30 - May 1 holiday" - People's Artist Nguyen Tien Dung expressed.

The young audience was very attentive to the charm of puppetry.

"Nursery Song" and "Country Echo" are meaningful spiritual gifts from the Vietnam Puppetry Theatre to the public on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification. The two programs also contribute to demonstrating the enduring vitality and flexible adaptability of traditional Vietnamese art in modern life.

From the stage of the Vietnam Puppetry Theatre in the heart of the capital to the open space on Phu Quoc Island - where national culture and international tourism intersect - the art of puppetry seems to retain its inherent appeal, even reaching further thanks to the creativity, innovation and dedication of the artists.

The performing arts are interwoven and blended into the content of the play.

In the vibrant flow of contemporary society, the above meaningful programs have helped the public look back at the glorious past, at the same time reminding them of the values ​​of their roots, fostering love for their homeland, and arousing national pride in every Vietnamese person. At the same time, it is also a solid step on the journey to bring Vietnamese traditional culture to the international level to continue to demonstrate its resilient strength, rich identity and steadfastness with the fundamental values ​​that have made up the soul of the nation.

Source: https://nhandan.vn/chuong-trinh-dac-biet-cua-nha-hat-mua-roi-viet-nam-mung-50-nam-thong-nhat-dat-nuoc-post875524.html