Children's drama overcomes difficulties

The market is bustling

On the occasion of the Lunar New Year 2025, the 5B Small Stage Drama Theater performed the play The Magic Pen , adapted from a familiar folk tale. This children's play brings together a cast of actors including: People's Artist My Uyen, Huynh Nhu, Huynh Ngan, Hong Dao, Ky Thien Canh... In addition to integrating messages into the work, the theater also focuses on creating effects through interactions with young audiences, transforming folk songs, folk songs, and reformed operas... to delight viewers. Previously, People's Artist My Uyen and her colleagues made a good impression with the plays Animal Rescue Station, Dai Nao Long Cung ...

The musical Tet oi tet a for families was released during the recent Tet holiday.

Photo: Ban Mai Stage

If in the past, Idecaf's Once Upon a Time was almost "alone" in the children's theater market, in recent years, other stages have also focused on young audiences. Typically, in the summer of 2024, Truong Hung Minh Art Theater introduced the play Me Coc Adventures , gathering the cast: Meritorious Artist Minh Nhi, Viet Huong, Hua Minh Dat, Quynh Lam... Artist Viet Huong revealed that this magnificent play was invested with 1 billion VND, with the largest number of costumes compared to other plays on the stage. Since its premiere, Me Coc Adventures has received positive reviews from the audience, continuously selling out tickets during the summer, showing the appeal of children's theater if invested properly and meticulously.

Over the past year, our theater has tried many ways, had to change many forms to capture the audience's tastes. We only have 90 minutes to help the children put their phones away and immerse themselves in the play. That requires the actors to work hard.

Bao Chu (director of plays at Ban Mai stage)

A good sign for the children's theater market is the birth of Ban Mai stage, with the collaboration of famous actors such as Phi Phung, People's Artist Trinh Kim Chi, Phuong Dung, Phuong Binh... With the motto of nurturing children's imagination and dreams, the stage aims to bring dramatic works based on Vietnamese culture, art and history. Ban Mai stage has brought many plays, including Rago - First Journey, Colora - Glorious Land, Tet oi tet a (released on the occasion of Lunar New Year 2025).

Meanwhile, Hong Hac stage also made its mark with the play My Little Angel - adapted from the novel of the same name by Nguyen Nhat Anh, premiered in the summer of 2024. Artist Quoc Thao and his students left an impression on young audiences in the play Colorful Island - Survival Challenge.

Once "monopolizing" the children's theater market, the fact that other stages are presenting plays for children does not make Idecaf's Once Upon a Time lose its appeal. The proof is that when new plays are released, this stage is still in a state of "sold out". Many people are even willing to "hunt" for black market tickets to have the opportunity to watch The Adventures of Captain Sinbad: Legend of the Magic Eye.

Artist Dinh Toan once shared in a program that Once Upon a Time maintains its appeal to older audiences not only because of its beautiful memories but also because of its constant innovation and creativity. "We have to write new scripts that are more attractive, thicker and have more details," he said.

The Adventures of Mexico

Photo: Truong Hung Minh Art Stage

Efforts to overcome challenges

Performing children's plays is a great opportunity for theaters today. When there are not many places for children to play, parents are worried about their children getting lost in technological devices, plays are the place for children to interact directly, express their opinions along with the situations that occur in the work. However, to be able to "pull" young audiences to the theater is not a simple problem, requiring the efforts of the theaters.

Understanding this, the plays, in addition to investing in costumes, sound or integrating messages, also focus on creating interactions with young audiences. Artist Quoc Thao said that on stage, he and his students also organize entertaining activities to attract viewers. "If we only think about profit and loss, it will be difficult to do children's plays. This work is only performed seasonally, while the investment cost is large. But this is an opportunity for actors to approach children and gain many lessons in acting, especially communication skills with the audience," said artist Quoc Thao.

Discussing the difficulties, artist Quoc Thao also admitted that plays for children require an attractive form. That poses a problem for the stage in terms of investment in costumes, scenery, sound, lighting, etc. He added: "If we invest carelessly, children will feel bored when looking at it, it will not attract them and will be counterproductive."

As the director of plays at Ban Mai stage, Bao Chu said one of the "difficulties" of the unit is creating a work that serves children but does not make parents feel bored. According to the director, to balance that is not a simple matter. "Over the past year, our stage has tried many ways, had to change many forms to capture the tastes of the audience. We only have 90 minutes to help children get away from their phones and immerse themselves in the play. That requires the actors to work with all their might. Children's plays require action, so it takes a lot of energy," he said.

Compared to other stages, director Bao Chu said that Ban Mai stage still has to rent a location. Therefore, he also depends on the stage space to stage the play appropriately. Above all, the director believes that the script is the key factor.

"We have to incorporateeducational elements into our works to bring lessons and experiences to children. In 2025, we will start a new direction when performing historical plays, hoping to get closer to children through connections with schools," Bao Chu shared.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/kich-thieu-nhi-vuot-kho-185250211221454911.htm