Striving to keep the flame of Cai Luong theater alive.

The "National Cai Luong Actor Talent Competition 2026" provides an opportunity for artists to showcase their talents and attract the public, especially young people.

The "National Cai Luong Actor Talent Competition 2026," organized by the Department of Performing Arts under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, opened on the evening of May 17th at the City Theater (Ho Chi Minh City), attracting a large number of artists and audience members.

Diverse and vibrant

The "National Cai Luong Actor Talent Competition 2026" will take place from May 18th to 23rd at the Tran Huu Trang Cai Luong Theatre (Ho Chi Minh City). The closing ceremony and awards presentation will be held on the evening of May 23rd, also at the Tran Huu Trang Cai Luong Theatre.

This year's competition attracted many professional art troupes. Notably, these included the Tran Huu Trang Cai Luong Theatre, the Hanoi Cai Luong Theatre, the Cao Van Lau Theatre, the Vietnam National Traditional Theatre, the Vam Co Cai Luong Art Troupe, the Huynh Long Traditional Opera Troupe, the Can Tho City Cultural and Arts Center, and the Lam Son Thanh Hoa Cultural and Arts Center…

"What is noteworthy about this year's competition is the participation of many different groups, from long-standing public theaters to socialized units, private troupes, and local cultural and artistic centers. This diversity creates a vibrant atmosphere for this year's competition," commented People's Artist Tran Ngoc Giau, Chairman of the Judging Panel.

Artists participate in the opening ceremony of the "National Cai Luong Actor Talent Competition 2026" at the City Theater. Photo: Organizing Committee.

Fans of Cai Luong (Vietnamese traditional opera) are eagerly anticipating the competition on May 18th, as artists from the Vam Co Cai Luong Art Troupe and the Tran Huu Trang Cai Luong Theatre will compete. Many artists, such as Vo Hoang Du, Le Hoang Nghi, Lam Thi Kim Cuong, Duong Thi Kim Tien, and Nguyen Thi Diem Kieu, have already made a strong impression before the competition. They will perform excerpts from plays including: "The Hungry Ghost," "The Temple Burner," "The Fate of Cam," "Tragedy," and "The Storm Rises Over Hung Long."

On the night of May 19th, artists from the Cao Van Lau Theater and the Huynh Long Traditional Opera Troupe, such as Tran Thi My Le, Lam Minh Nghiem, Tran Hong Tham, Truong Trong Nhan, etc., will "clash" with each other. They will perform characters from excerpts such as: "One Minute, One Time," "Not Dust," and "A Time of Tragedy and Heroism." The solo performances will require exceptional skill and confidence.

The competition on May 20th featured artists from the Vietnam National Traditional Theatre and the Hai Phong Traditional Theatre. Competing artists included: Hoang Tuan Thinh, Nguyen Thi Nguyet (Minh Nguyet), Hoang Van Duong, Le Trung Tuan, and Phan Thu Phuong. Audiences were treated to excerpts from plays such as: "The Wolf's Heart," "Ly Chieu Hoang ," "Ngu Bo Waterfront," "Lifelong Loyalty to Thang Long," and "The Burning Wine."

The competition on May 21st will feature artists from the Can Tho City Cultural and Arts Center and the Hanoi Cai Luong Theatre. Artists Vo Vu Linh, Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, Vo Thi Be, Do Thi Hien, and Le Xuan Vuong will perform excerpts from: "Moc Quan Nguyen Trong Quyen", "Vuong Quyen", "Thoi Con Gai Da Xa", "Dem Cuoi Ly Chieu Hoang", and "Ke Si Thang Long".

People's Artist Nguyen Xuan Bac, Director of the Department of Performing Arts, hopes that this year's competition will create opportunities for young Cai Luong talents to develop their creativity and bring new signals to this traditional art form that is over 100 years old.

Expectations for the next generation

Many directors, scriptwriters, and artists believe that this year's competition is particularly important in the context of traditional theater needing a strong, capable, and creative successor generation to revitalize Cai Luong (Vietnamese traditional opera) from a contemporary perspective.

People's Artist Le Thuy expressed: "What is commendable is that many young artists still choose to stay committed to Cai Luong (Vietnamese traditional opera) even as the traditional stage faces numerous difficulties."

According to Meritorious Artist Le Thien, talent and confidence will be showcased by the contestants. Therefore, the staging needs to maintain the lyrical and narrative quality of Cai Luong (Vietnamese traditional opera) - an important element for contestants to demonstrate their singing and acting abilities.

Many directors believe that Ho Chi Minh City is playing the role of a major cultural and artistic center, an important launching pad for young talents. After the competition, artists who achieve good results will have more opportunities to enter professional stages, participate in major projects, and gradually establish their names in the art world.

Playwright Dang Minh hopes that the younger generation of actors will boldly approach the audience through modern staging techniques, mastery of stage technology, and storytelling that is close to contemporary life, while still preserving the core spirit of Cai Luong (Vietnamese traditional opera).

According to experts, in the new era of national development, cải lương (Vietnamese traditional opera) is expected not only to survive as a traditional value but also to become a cultural current capable of accompanying modern life. To achieve this, it is essential to have young artists with sufficient talent and creativity to attract the public back to traditional theater.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/gang-suc-giu-lua-san-khau-cai-luong-19626051721165456.htm