Nearly 1,000 artists participate in the 2025 International Experimental Theatre Festival

(NLDO) – People's Artist Giang Manh Ha - Vice President of the Vietnam Stage Artists Association - discussed the activities of the 2025 International Experimental Theatre Festival in Ho Chi Minh City

Actors participating in the play "Nguyet Ha" of Hong Van Drama Theater (photo: Hong Van Drama Theater)

On the morning of November 16 in Ho Chi Minh City, the Vietnam Association of Stage Artists held a press conference to introduce the important highlights of the 6th International Experimental Theatre Festival - 2025, one of the largest-scale art events in the contemporary theatre industry in many years.

In addition to informing about the scale, goals and stature of the Festival, the meeting also clearly demonstrated the determination of the Vietnamese theater community in the journey of innovation, creativity and international integration.

Expectations to raise innovative vision for Vietnamese theater

According to the announced information, this year's Festival is chaired by the Vietnam Association of Stage Artists, in coordination with the People's Committee of Ninh Binh province, taking place from November 15 to 30, 2025 in four localities: Hanoi , Ninh Binh, Ho Chi Minh City and Hai Phong.

The play "Nguyet Ha" by Hong Van Drama Theater

The festival brings together nearly 1,000 artists, with 28 plays from international and Vietnamese art units, a number that shows a strong expansion in both scale and creative quality. These works all have an experimental spirit, focusing on exploring new methods of expression, combining tradition and modernity, as well as bold approaches to theatrical language.

"In addition to the official performances, the Festival also has a system of academic activities including professional seminars, exchange programs, large-scale opening and closing performances, and many performance series to serve the audience" - People's Artist Giang Manh Ha - representative of the Festival Organizing Committee said.

Big Message: From Experimental Creation to the Goal of Elevating Vietnamese Theatre

At the meeting, the leaders of the Vietnam Stage Artists Association emphasized that the Festival is not only a performance venue, but also a forum for academic exchange, an environment for domestic and foreign artists to seek new creative directions together.

Scene of the press meeting on the morning of November 16 of the Vietnam Stage Artists Association in Ho Chi Minh City

The festival promises to make a practical contribution to the implementation of the Party's important resolutions on culture and arts, especially: Resolution 23 of the Politburo on building and developing literature and arts in the new period; Resolution 33-NQ/TW on building Vietnamese culture and people in the country's sustainable development.

The press conference in Ho Chi Minh City also showed the aspirations of the theater world: through the spirit of experimentation, artists can find new directions for expressive language, create plays with deep ideas and high artistry, and at the same time connect more effectively with contemporary audiences.

Experimental theatre – where tradition meets modernity

One of the special features of the 2025 Festival is the way art units approach theatrical materials. The participating plays are carefully invested, showing boldness in: blending new performance techniques; applying stage technology; expanding body language; incorporating multimedia elements into expression; restructuring narrative forms.

The spirit of "experimentation" lies not only in form, but also in new themes and new perspectives on tradition.

People's Artist Giang Manh Ha - Vice President of Vietnam Stage Artists Association - representative of the Organizing Committee informed about the festival activities in 4 cities: Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Hai Phong and Ninh Binh

The press conference showed that many Vietnamese art troupes are choosing the "traditional in contemporary spirit" approach, considering this an important path to elevate Vietnamese theater.

Ninh Binh – cultural highlight in the Festival journey

At the meeting, People's Artist Giang Manh Ha said that the "Street Parade" event in the ancient town of Hoa Lu - Ninh Binh is considered a creative highlight.

This is an activity connecting art with the cultural space - heritage of the ancient capital, helping international artists and Vietnamese audiences have a unique experience amidst the historical - natural context of the capital Hoa Lu, home to the world heritage Trang An.

The play "Soul of Jade Poetry" directed by Meritorious Artist Le Nguyen Dat

"The festival in Ninh Binh also opens up a journey to explore local culture, from famous landscapes, ancient temples to spiritual values, festivals and cuisine, helping international artists better understand Vietnam's cultural identity" - People's Artist Giang Manh Ha emphasized.

Ho Chi Minh City – a bridge connecting media and community

Holding the press conference in Ho Chi Minh City affirms the city's role as a major media and arts center, with a large artist force, active audience and strong media.

Ho Chi Minh City is also one of four venues hosting experimental performances, contributing to spreading the new spirit of theater to the creative community and art-loving public in the city.

In an open and professional atmosphere, questions from the press revolved around: the criteria for evaluating experimental plays; the novelty of this year's works; the level of international participation; and the Association's long-term orientation in promoting theatrical creativity.

Play "The Flood" by Master - Director Thanh Thuong.

An aspirational artistic journey

The press conference on the morning of November 16 in Ho Chi Minh City was a strong affirmation of the Vietnam Stage Artists Association in its efforts to promote the stage into a new phase - a phase of expanding thinking, increasing exchange and respecting experimental creativity.

The 2025 International Experimental Theatre Festival is therefore an artistic event of greater stature than the previous five editions, and is a declaration of the spirit of innovation and integration of the country's theatre.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/gan-1000-nghe-si-tham-gia-lien-hoan-quoc-te-san-khau-thu-nghiem-2025-196251116152935301.htm