Bustling opening of the 2025 International Experimental Theatre Festival

On the evening of November 20, the 6th International Experimental Theatre Festival in 2025, chaired by the Vietnam Stage Artists Association, in coordination with the People's Committee of Ninh Binh province and inter-organizational agencies, officially opened at Pham Thi Tran Theatre (Ninh Binh), gathering 19 domestic units and 8 international units.

Art Council of the 6th International Experimental Theatre Festival. Photo: Linh Tran

Speaking at the festival, Vice Chairman of Ninh Binh Provincial People's Committee Ha Lan Anh expressed his joy at welcoming talented artists from many countries and territories, along with art troupes from all over the country to Ninh Binh.

Vice Chairman of Ninh Binh Provincial People's Committee Ha Lan Anh delivered a welcome speech. Photo: T.Du

According to the Vice Chairman of the Ninh Binh Provincial People's Committee, your presence is a vivid demonstration of the power of cultural diplomacy , of the exchange, understanding and sharing between art forms in the world. Each performance, each language of expression, each cultural feature that the artists bring is a bridge to bring Ninh Binh closer to international friends, and at the same time bring international friends closer to Vietnam.

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. Photo: T.Du

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the festival, People's Artist Trinh Thuy Mui, Vice President of the Vietnam Union of Literature and Arts Associations, President of the Vietnam Stage Artists Association, emphasized that the 6th International Experimental Theatre Festival in 2025 is a cultural and artistic exchange event between Vietnam and countries around the world, aiming to improve the quality of art as well as encourage innovation and creativity; an opportunity for artists to promote the unique values ​​of art forms and exchange experiences in artistic creation with international colleagues.

According to People's Artist Trinh Thuy Mui, from this association, Vietnamese theater can find directions for artistic activities to build many theatrical works with high ideological value and artistic quality, contributing to the implementation of Resolution 23-NQ/TU of the Politburo on "Continuing to build and develop literature and art in the new period", Resolution No. 33-NQ/TU of the 9th Central Conference, term XI - 2014 "on building and developing Vietnamese culture and people to meet the requirements of sustainable national development" and the Party's Resolutions on culture and art.

Representatives of several Vietnamese and international units attended the festival. Photo: T.Du

“The festival brings together typical experimental stage works of professional international and Vietnamese stage art troupes, helping domestic and international drama to develop more and more, while preserving traditional and identity values, while at the same time being in harmony with contemporary life, reflecting all activities of social life as well as providing aesthetic orientation for the audience, helping artists fulfill their mission, serving the spiritual life of the public”, People's Artist Trinh Thuy Mui expressed her hope.

The 6th International Experimental Theatre Festival attracted more than 1,000 artists and actors from nearly 30 international and Vietnamese professional theatre art units, bringing 28 typical experimental theatre plays.

Among them, there are 9 works from 9 international units from the following countries: Poland, China (2 units), Korea, Israel, Japan, Mongolia, Uzbekistan, and the Netherlands.

Mr. Lemi Ponifasio, UNESCO World Theatre Ambassador, speaking. Photo: Linh Tran

UNESCO World Theatre believes that the 2025 International Experimental Theatre Festival is not just a series of performances, it is also a mirror reflecting the contemplations and core values ​​of human philosophy. “The works participating in the festival help us gain a deeper understanding of humanity in general, promote the discovery of new artistic frontiers, shape the era and breathe life into things that the eyes have not seen, the ears have not heard, and words cannot express. This is the true miracle”, Mr. Lemi Ponifasio emphasized.

The play "The old men carrying the burden on their backs". Photo: T.Du

Immediately after the opening, the Ninh Binh Traditional Arts Theater performed the play “The Elderly Carrying Bent Backs”. The play was adapted by director Le Quy Duong, based on the script of the same name by author Nguyen Duc Minh, staged on a conventional stage, bringing stage decoration directly into the development of conflict and dramatic action, in building and shaping the character’s personality. The work is also an experiment in the use of dialogue language, combining traditional and contemporary folk nuances, combining and unexpectedly transitioning between electronic music and modern sound effects with the melodies of traditional national music…

Many experiments in the play "The old men carrying the hunched backs". Photo: BTC

On the same afternoon, within the framework of the 6th International Experimental Theatre Festival, a street parade of art units participating in the festival took place in Ninh Binh.

Previously, from November 16 to 19, 8 plays by 7 art units took place in 3 provinces and cities: Hanoi, Hai Phong, and Ho Chi Minh City.

The remaining plays will be performed until November 29 at Pham Thi Tran Theater and Ninh Binh Provincial Convention Center. The festival will also include three academic seminars on participating theatrical works.

The closing ceremony and award ceremony of the festival were held on the evening of November 30 at Pham Thi Tran Theater (Ninh Binh).

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/ron-rang-khai-man-lien-hoan-quoc-te-san-khau-thu-nghiem-nam-2025-724077.html