Ten Years of the Hong Hac Stage

Ten years ago, when director Viet Linh premiered the play Thien Thien, few people thought it would usher in such a long and enduring journey for Hong Hac Theatre.

Vo Minh Lam and Le Chi Na participate in a theatrical performance on the Hong Hac stage - Photo: L.DOAN

At that time, Viet Linh was at the peak of her career, quietly shifting in a new direction – from film to stage – amidst a declining audience for theaters in Ho Chi Minh City. Many considered it a risky adventure, even the end of her career.

But ten years later, the Hong Hac Theatre – the theatre she founded and directly manages – is still open. Overcoming harsh challenges, especially the pandemic period that forced many other theatres to close, Hong Hac has survived, continued to stage plays, and is preparing for its 10th anniversary celebration. A journey considered a "miracle" in contemporary theatre life.

Mentioning Viet Linh brings to mind an artist always brimming with creative energy. A phone call from her always reveals something new, something taking shape, something in motion. The way she speaks, the way she believes in seemingly fragile things – that's what keeps Hong Hac alive today.

This time, she wasn't talking about cinema. She was talking about the stage – something that has now become her daily breath. Just like when she made films, she remained steadfast in her way of thinking, her way of telling stories, and her tireless, even stubborn, love for art.

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She remains a loyal lover of cinema, but for various reasons, including health, she no longer directs directly. Instead, she supports young filmmakers by organizing workshops, running the Hong Hac Film Club, editing scripts, and reviewing final cuts when invited.

"Most recently, I've been working with young director Quoc Cong on the screenplay for the film 'A Crippled Heart,' which will be released in theaters in November 2025," director Viet Linh said.

Behind the spotlight of the Hong Hac stage, her voice resonates from backstage – as if a new play is about to begin.

Looking at the stage in Ho Chi Minh City, the image of an elderly woman still diligently working in rehearsal rooms, directing plays, and adapting literary works... defying age, forgetting the image of a renowned female director of Me Thao, a glorious era that no one can describe better than her, the woman named Viet Linh. But this is a completely new Viet Linh.

And the aspirations for the city's theater scene never grow old.

The Hong Hac Theatre, established on December 25, 2015, marks a new artistic chapter for director Viet Linh, a filmmaker and writer who has transitioned into theatre.

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After 10 years of operation, Hong Hac Theatre has a long repertoire encompassing various genres and themes, from social psychology ( Thien Thien, Visa, Third-Class Actress, I Am a Woman ), crime psychology ( The Devil's Hour ), children's plays (My Little Angel, Love Takes Flight, Making Friends with the Sky, Give Me a Ticket to Childhood ); to plays with a more exotic feel ( Eugenie Grandet, Tam and the Queen, Everything We Haven't Said ), experimental plays ( Island of Fire ), and plays about the war of national defense ( If You Were Still Alive )... Since 2018, Hong Hac Theatre has added English subtitles.

Since 2018, Hong Hac Theatre has added English subtitles. Besides regular performances, Hong Hac Theatre also introduces its repertoire to audiences who prefer a private viewing experience. In early June 2024, Hong Hac added a new format – spoken drama.

Nguyen Ngoc Thuan

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/muoi-nam-san-khau-hong-hac-20251022092811569.htm