Combining circus and traditional Vietnamese opera in a special production about King Tran Nhan Tong.

A theatrical performance about the life and career of King Tran Nhan Tong, combining circus and Cai Luong (Vietnamese traditional opera) art forms, will officially premiere for Hanoi audiences on December 20th. This performance is also expected to attract both the general public and tourists to Vietnam.

Regarding the performance on the afternoon of December 17th, director and People's Artist Tong Toan Thang, Director of the Vietnam Circus Federation, stated that "Tran Nhan Tong" is a large-scale artistic work and the third performance combining circus arts with Cai Luong (Vietnamese traditional opera). Based on experience from previous projects, the creative team seamlessly integrated the two art forms, ensuring that the circus acts are not separate but rather serve as illustrations, supplements, and enhance the emotional impact of the performance's narrative. The work vividly and completely recreates the life of the wise and enlightened King Tran Nhan Tong: from his birth, growth, ascension to the throne, leading the people of Dai Viet to victory against the Yuan-Mongol invaders, to his abdication, renunciation of worldly life, and becoming the First Patriarch of the Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen sect.

People's Artist Tong Toan Thang and members of the creative team spoke with the press about the circus-traditional opera performance "Tran Nhan Tong".

The Circus-Cai Luong play "Tran Nhan Tong," directed by People's Artist Tong Toan Thang and Meritorious Artist Tran Quang Khai, is based on a script by Dr. Bui Huu Duoc and adapted into Cai Luong by Meritorious Artist Phan Ngoc Chi. The work brings together talented artists from the Vietnam Circus Federation and the Vietnam National Traditional Theatre, many of whom have previously participated in two projects combining Circus and Cai Luong, as well as a play about Emperor Tran Nhan Tong. Dr. and People's Artist Trieu Trung Kien stated that, unlike previous projects, the Circus-Cai Luong play "Tran Nhan Tong" targets a mass audience and tourists . The play is nearly 100 minutes long and has a faster pace.

Regarding this performance, Meritorious Artist and director Tran Quang Khai also said that when staging "Tran Nhan Tong," he applied all his experience from previous performances portraying the Buddhist Emperor, and also learned from two previous collaborative projects between the Vietnam Circus Federation and the Vietnam Cai Luong Theatre to best tell the story of the life of the wise King Tran Nhan Tong on stage. Through the combined language of circus, Cai Luong, music , dance, physical performance, and stage art, the performance not only provides an emotionally rich artistic space but also has profound educational value, helping today's audience better understand the character, thoughts, and spiritual legacy of the Buddhist Emperor Tran Nhan Tong, with values ​​that remain relevant in the construction and protection of the country today.

Scene from the circus-traditional Vietnamese opera "Tran Nhan Tong".

The system of movable platforms and stage bases, combined with LED projection screens, scenery, and stage decorations, creates a multi-dimensional space where each performance is a different artistic space. This is considered the starting point for the development of large-scale integrated circus and theatrical performances, opening up the possibility of deeper application of technologies such as 3D mapping and holograms in the future.

Master and choreographer Tuyet Minh also revealed that in the play "Tran Nhan Tong," the romantic, intimate scenes, panoramic views, and symbolic spaces, especially the Ngoa Van - Yen Tu mountain area, are expressed using a combination of circus and Cai Luong (Vietnamese traditional opera) elements, creating a vivid, cinematic real-life setting.

Representatives of the Tran Family Council of Vietnam presented paintings and sculptures of King Tran Nhan Tong for auction during the performance of the artwork "Tran Nhan Tong".

The performance boldly incorporates animal acts (monkeys, goats, pigs, etc.) into the stage setting, recreating a rural village, market scene, and natural setting that is both visually rich and entertaining. On the square stage, the team utilized many high-altitude and multi-layered acts, such as: a scene depicting the birth of Tran Nhan Tong combined with high-wire acts; a battle scene incorporating acrobatics and trampolines; and a rural market scene incorporating balancing acts on rollers.

It is known that before its official premiere on December 20th, 21st, and 28th at the Central Circus Theater, the play "Tran Nhan Tong" held a dress rehearsal on December 8th and received many positive reviews from experts and audiences regarding its artistic quality, elaborate staging, and grand scale. At the press conference on the afternoon of December 17th, the work continued to receive much praise from members of the Tran family. On this occasion, many special works such as statues, paintings of King Tran Nhan Tong, and calligraphy were also donated by representatives of the Tran Family Council of Vietnam to the organizing committee for auction on the official premiere day of "Tran Nhan Tong".

Source: https://cand.com.vn/Chuyen-dong-van-hoa/ket-hop-xiec-cai-luong-trong-tac-pham-dac-biet-ve-vua-tran-nhan-tong-i791389/