Opening of the 6th International Experimental Theatre Festival – 2025

(NLDO) - Opening of the 6th International Experimental Theatre Festival - 2025: Theatre as a forum for creativity and global cultural dialogue

The jury of the 6th International Experimental Theatre Festival 2025 received flowers from the festival's organizing committee and steering committee.

On the evening of November 20, at Pham Thi Tran Theater ( Ninh Binh ), the 6th International Experimental Theater Festival - 2025, organized by the Vietnam Theater Artists Association in coordination with the People's Committee of Ninh Binh province, officially opened in a solemn, emotional and artistic atmosphere.

The festival takes place from November 15 to November 30 in 4 localities: Hanoi , Ninh Binh, Ho Chi Minh City and Hai Phong - a flexible organization, expanding creative space and creating conditions for many art units, especially socialized stages, to participate in the "experimental flow" that is increasingly having a profound influence on contemporary theatrical life.

Art units received flowers, souvenir flags and commemorative medals from the Festival.

Experimental theatre – where tradition and innovation meet

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Festival, People's Artist Trinh Thuy Mui - President of the Vietnam Stage Artists Association - affirmed: The Festival is an international cultural and artistic exchange activity, contributing to improving the quality of art, encouraging creativity and innovation in the language of stage. At the same time, this is also an environment for Vietnamese and international artists to promote their identity, exchange creative experiences, thereby forming new artistic directions to build stage works with high ideological value and artistic quality.

According to People's Artist Trinh Thuy Mui, the Festival also contributes to promoting the development of domestic and international theater in the direction of preserving traditional identity but at the same time in harmony with contemporary life, reflecting social reality and orienting the public aesthetically. There, the stage is not only a place for performance but also an ideological space, where artists carry out their mission before the audience and the times.

People's Artist Trinh Thuy Mui - Vice President of the Vietnam Union of Literature and Arts Associations - President of the Vietnam Stage Artists Association spoke

From a local perspective, Ms. Ha Lan Anh, Vice Chairwoman of Ninh Binh Provincial People's Committee, emphasized: Experimental theatre opens up a courageous, creative and innovative way of thinking. Experimentation is not only a matter of staging techniques but also a spirit of exploration, a dialogue between tradition and modernity, between national identity and global trends. Through that, theatrical art becomes a form of open thinking, helping people to understand themselves, history, culture and the times.

Notably, Ms. Ha Lan Anh said that the Festival is not only an art event, but also an opportunity for Ninh Binh to demonstrate its vision of cultural development associated with creativity and international integration. From here, it is possible to open up strategic cooperation directions between Ninh Binh and global art organizations, making the locality a cultural and creative destination on the international map.

The special performances welcoming the festival made a strong impression on the audience.

Gathering more than 1,000 artists, nearly 30 domestic and foreign theater units

This year’s festival brings together more than 1,000 artists from nearly 30 professional Vietnamese and international theater art units, with 28 typical experimental plays. Of which, there are 9 international works from the following countries: Poland, China (2 units), Korea, Israel, Japan, Mongolia, Uzbekistan and the Netherlands.

People's Artist Giang Manh Ha - Vice President of Vietnam Stage Artists Association - Head of the Festival Organizing Committee awarded commemorative medals to art units.

This year's Jury includes prestigious names in the field of theater: Dr. Nguyen Dang Chuong - Playwright, Chairman of the Art Council, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Stage Artists Association - Chairman of the Jury; Meritorious Artist Tran Thang Vinh - Director, Member of the Association's Standing Committee - Member; Doina Cezarina Lupu - Theater Appraisal Expert (Romania) - Member; Tsuyoshi Sugiyama - Director (Japan) - Member; Lulu Marie Aurelia Obermayer - Director, Actress, Choreographer (Germany) - Member.

The presence of international experts demonstrates the transparency, objectivity and depth of expertise of the Festival, while also creating a valuable opportunity for Vietnamese artists to approach and compete with international evaluation standards.

"The old people carrying heavy loads on their backs" - a greeting imbued with the identity of Ninh Binh

Right after the opening ceremony, the audience enjoyed the play "The Elderly Carrying Carriers" performed by the Ninh Binh Traditional Arts Theater. This was not only an opening performance but also a greeting full of the identity of the ancient capital Hoa Lu to international friends - where the spirit of tradition and experimentation blend in the artistic space.

The play directed by Le Quy Duong captivates the audience with its overflowing emotions and interesting wedding sounds. The art of Ninh Binh Cheo opens with charming features from a hypothetical but very current story.

The audience enthusiastically cheered the play "The old men carrying the hunched shoulders" performed by the Ninh Binh Traditional Arts Theater.

Perspective from UNESCO: Art as "miracle of humanity"

Attending the opening ceremony, Mr. Lemi Ponifasio – UNESCO World Theatre Ambassador – gave an emotional speech. He commented that the Festival is not only a series of performances but also a "mirror reflecting the contemplations of humanity".

According to him, art is a combination of tradition and innovation; the works in the Festival help people understand the world more deeply, promote the discovery of new artistic frontiers and "breathe life into things that eyes have not seen, ears have not heard, words cannot express".

Two international female judges were cheered by the audience at the Festival, namely Ms. Doina Cezarina Lupu – Theatre Appraisal Expert (Romania) – Commissioner and Ms. Aurelia Obermayer – Director, Actress, Choreographer (Germany) – Commissioner.

Before the opening ceremony in Ninh Binh, from November 16 to 19, 8 plays by domestic art troupes were introduced in Hanoi, Hai Phong and Ho Chi Minh City. The public will continue to enjoy the remaining plays by domestic and international troupes in Ninh Binh until November 29.

The closing ceremony and award ceremony of the Festival is scheduled to take place on the evening of November 30, at Pham Thi Tran Theater, Ninh Binh.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/khai-mac-lien-hoan-quoc-te-san-khau-thu-nghiem-lan-thu-vi-2025-196251121074645065.htm