Meeting place for rowing lovers
From October 20 to November 2, Bac Ninh will welcome professional art troupes from many provinces and cities. about participating in the 2025 National Cheo Festival. The activity is chaired by the Department of Performing Arts (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism), in coordination with the Vietnam Association of Stage Artists and the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Bac Ninh province.
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Bac Ninh Cheo Theatre prepares the play "Thien Menh" to participate in the Festival. |
According to the Department of Performing Arts, the national Cheo festival is held every three years to honor traditional artistic values, recognize the contributions of units in the preservation and creation of art, and at the same time create opportunities for artists to exchange, learn, and improve the quality of performances in the new period. People's Artist Xuan Bac, Director of the Department of Performing Arts, Head of the Festival Organizing Committee affirmed: Cheo is a precious intangible cultural heritage of the nation, a mirror of culture, morality and soul of the Vietnamese people. This year's festival is not only a professional competition but also a festival for Cheo lovers. We hope that from here, the spirit of creativity and passion for folk art will be spread further, especially to the young generation."
| At 9:30 and 20:00 from October 20 to November 2, art troupes participating in the Festival will perform 21 unique Cheo plays praising the people, traditional history, and homeland; arousing the aspiration to develop a prosperous and happy Vietnam. |
Participating in the Festival, famous Cheo lands, typical units such as: Ninh Binh Traditional Arts Theater brings 4 plays; Hung Yen Provincial Cheo Theater participates 3 plays; Vietnam National Traditional Stage Theater; Military Cheo Theater, Hanoi Cheo Theater, Bac Ninh ... bring 2 plays. Not only is it a "competition" of professional Cheo theaters and troupes, this year's Festival will be a "comprehensive picture" of the appearance of Cheo art in the integration period. 21 elaborately staged plays will be introduced to the audience one after another, creating an "artistic feast" with strong national colors. Each play is a story about people, history, homeland; arousing the aspiration to develop a prosperous and happy country, contributing to building an advanced Vietnamese culture with strong national identity.
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Artists and actors of Bac Ninh Cheo Theatre actively practice to attend the festival. |
The 2025 National Cheo Festival is not only a stage for artists but also a festival for the people, a meeting place between tradition and modernity, between the soul of artists and the love of art of the public. Compared to previous years, this year the awarding mechanism is flexible, the evaluation criteria emphasize creativity and influence on the audience; seminars, exhibitions, and exchanges between artists and people are organized to help viewers understand more about the creative work journey of those who preserve the heritage. In addition to the Gold and Silver Medals, the Organizing Committee will award the Excellence Award to outstanding performances, comprehensive in both content and art.
Participating in the festival in Bac Ninh, the artists and actors were all excited because the audience here loves Cheo. Representatives of the troupes said they had practiced thoroughly and were ready to bring the best plays to the people of Kinh Bac.
A place for traditional art to take flight
According to the Organizing Committee, Bac Ninh was chosen to host not only because of its favorable conditions but also because it is a land of "spiritual people" imbued with the soul of folk songs and folk performances, the "cradle" of Quan Ho, Trong Quan singing, Tuong singing, and Cheo singing. This land is an ideal space for the reunion and spreading of the vitality of traditional arts.
Ms. Bui Thi Thu Thuy, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Bac Ninh province, said: “It is a great pride that Bac Ninh was chosen by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to host the Festival. In particular, the Festival will open up opportunities to promote the image of Bac Ninh - a green and friendly cultural and tourism destination. This is an opportunity for the province to introduce to friends across the country the image of a dynamic, hospitable Bac Ninh that respects and nurtures traditional cultural values. During the event, thousands of artists, tourists and art lovers from all over will come here, creating a vibrant cultural space, contributing to promoting local services and tourism.”
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The festival was held at the Bac Ninh Provincial Culture and Exhibition Center. (Photo: Contributor) |
To make the Festival successful and leave an impression on artists, people and tourists, Bac Ninh has established an Organizing Committee and a Working Group for the Provincial Cheo Festival. Implementing the direction of Comrade Mai Son, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Head of the Provincial Festival Organizing Committee, the cultural sector coordinated with relevant sectors and units to promote information, propaganda, and improve performance venues; introduce places to eat and stay for troupes participating in the festival; direct restaurant, hotel, motel businesses... to create favorable conditions for troupes.
According to information from the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, at this time, the preparation work has basically been completed, ready for the opening ceremony on the evening of October 20. The modern Provincial Cultural - Exhibition Center stage with 500 seats has been decorated. The sound and lighting systems ensure standards. Along with preparing forces to ensure security, order, health, and environmental sanitation, during the festival days, the Organizing Committee will arrange staff to guide and introduce groups to visit historical - cultural relics and typical scenic spots in the province.
12 troupes participated in the Festival, including: Vietnam National Traditional Theatre; Army Cheo Theatre; Hanoi Cheo Theatre; Ninh Binh Traditional Arts Theatre; Hai Phong Traditional Theatre; Dong Cheo Theatre (Hai Phong); Lam Son Thanh Hoa Arts Theatre; Hung Yen Province Cheo Theatre; Quang Ninh Province Art Troupe; Thai Nguyen Province Ethnic Arts Troupe; Lac Hong Theatre of Phu Tho Province; Bac Ninh Cheo Theatre. |
In particular, the host representative - Bac Ninh Cheo Theatre will bring 2 plays "Thien Menh" and "Ky Uc Dong Thuong" which are carefully invested in both script, music and staging, exploiting historical and cultural materials of Kinh Bac, combining traditional Cheo style and contemporary breath. Nearly 50 artists, actors and musicians of the unit have been diligently practicing and polishing each verse and dance to be smooth, fluent and emotional. People's Artist Ta Quang Lam, Director of Bac Ninh Cheo Theatre shared: "We put a lot of heart into these 2 plays not only for the competition but also to show gratitude to the hometown audience - those who always maintain a lasting love for folk theater". In addition, the unit also coordinated with Bac Ninh Quan Ho Folk Song Theatre to prepare a special art program imbued with the identity of the homeland of Quan Ho to serve at the opening ceremony to welcome the participating delegations and the people.
Hearing that the National Cheo Festival will be held in their hometown this year, many Bac Ninh residents are eagerly looking forward to it. Ms. Nguyen Thi Mai, 72 years old, Canh Thuy ward excitedly confided: “I have loved Cheo since I was a child; I have always been present at Cheo performances in the village and commune. Now that the National Cheo Festival is taking place in the province, I will take the time to come and watch it to directly enjoy and interact with professional artists.”
With the attention and preparation of the province and the passionate love for traditional art of Kinh Bac people, it will certainly be the motivation for artists and actors to give their all in performances imbued with Vietnamese national identity.
Source: https://baobacninhtv.vn/lien-hoan-cheo-toan-quoc-2025-hoi-tu-tinh-hoa-nghe-thuat-truyen-thong-tren-que-huong-kinh-bac-postid428985.bbg
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