Wandering through dreams

The heart and soul of the Nha Trang Theatre is the play "Life Puppets" - a unique artistic program that innovates on the traditional Vietnamese water puppetry. This performance is considered by many to be a "must-see" when visiting the coastal city.

Alongside the enchanting stage settings of Puppet Show is a world of sound created by the talent of young artists. The orchestra, combining indigenous folk instruments, creates a pristine and captivating rhythm.

Amidst the empty seats before the performance, the artists diligently rehearse. Before transforming onto the stage, they spend hours sweating to ensure that every movement and breath becomes the most authentic expression of emotion.

It's rare to find a theater where the cast rehearses daily, even though the play has been performed regularly for two years. They revise, research, and add new details, which can then be incorporated into the official performance. They want their play to always be "alive" so that they themselves can live with their passion.

The technique of controlling a bicycle combined with tangram puppetry – a unique form of puppetry that requires a harmonious coordination of physical strength, emotion, and creativity – is almost exclusively found in Dream Puppetry.

The artists of that theater are mostly very young. While the theater was built with the clear purpose of serving puppet art, the cast is an intriguing enigma. Some are professionally trained, while the majority come from indigenous communities...

Although not formally trained, the resilience, flexibility, and good body language skills inherited from traditional culture are advantages of these amateur actors. Their naturalness, simplicity, and inner strength contribute to the unique spirit of "Puppet Dream."

Before the performance began, the artists held hands tightly, demonstrating their determination. The theater always creates a welcoming atmosphere where each individual can be nurtured, developed, and feel a lasting connection.

Behind the vibrant folk masks and brocade costumes, and with purely Vietnamese, handcrafted props, the artists vividly and creatively recreate the images, rhythms, and spirit of traditional cultural heritage.

One of the key factors in achieving the desired artistic effect of the performance is the uniquely designed stage of the Theatre, featuring multiple spaces: water, air, land, and a projection screen.

Beyond simply performing, these young artists are reviving cultural memories – where national cultural elements are renewed through body language, music , and contemporary theater, helping today's audience appreciate the depth of Vietnamese identity.

"The feeling of having our ethnic culture showcased on a big stage and being embraced by the audience is something to be very proud of and moved by," said Van Thi Ngoc Huyen, a Cham ethnic contemporary dancer, in her impressive solo performance featuring a dance incorporating bamboo puppets in the shape of snakes underwater, inspired by the legend of the Naga serpent god.

The performance has no dialogue, relying solely on music, sound effects, and the songs of the indigenous people. Through creatively crafted imagery, the performance vividly reflects life in a flexible, humorous, yet meaningful way.

The stage of that theater is not just a performance space, but has become a space imbued with aesthetic appeal, where folk cultural elements are subtly extracted and creatively recreated. It marks a new milestone in the journey of Vietnamese theater, affirming its identity in international exchange.

That artistic philosophy is also what makes young artists love the theater and the performances, because each performance is a journey of discovery , not only about art but also about their own limits.

THUY NGUYEN - VU PHUONG

Nhandan.vn

Source: https://nhandan.vn/anh-lang-du-qua-nhung-giac-mo-post888864.html