After 5 performances in mid and late 2023 that received public acclaim, including praise from writer Nguyen Nhat Anh himself, Hong Hac stage of veteran female director Viet Linh decided to re-perform the play. Give me a ticket to my childhood, at 7:30 p.m. on February 27 at Thanh Nien Theater (4 Pham Ngoc Thach, District 1, HCMC), with English subtitles.
Poster of the play on the evening of February 27 at Thanh Nien Theater (HCMC)
On this occasion, director Viet Linh had a conversation with Thanh Nien about his current work and new plans in 2024.
* Tet season is always the "money-making" season for theaters because urban audiences have a high demand for plays. Why is Hong Hac the only theater in Ho Chi Minh City that does not perform Tet plays?
- Tet is a season of joy and entertainment. We feel that the Hong Hac product is not suitable, so we temporarily stop so that our brothers can have free time to do other work.
* Why did Hong Hac choose to perform again on the evening of February 27 with the play Give Me a Ticket to Childhood (adapted from the novel of the same name by Nguyen Nhat Anh)?
- Because the content of the play is suitable for the New Year atmosphere - "going back to childhood" (laughs); and there are many requests from the audience. On the other hand, it has to be done quickly because the child actors will grow up and get out of character/distant from the character.
* It is known that one of the public's choices to watch is the Hong Hac play with English subtitles. Are you aiming for a diverse audience, including foreign guests?
- No. It's simply a common practice in the world, like Vietnamese movies released in theaters all have English subtitles, for the convenience of those who don't speak Vietnamese - if any. With plays adapted from literature, subtitles also force the actors to speak the dialogue correctly.
Director Viet Linh receives flowers from the audience on the Hong Hac drama stage.
* Hong Hac Stage was established on December 25, 2015, marking a new artistic journey for director Viet Linh, a filmmaker and writer who has moved to the stage. For you, 9 years of creating plays that approach cinema and literature, what kind of journey has it been? Difficult or happy?
- Both, and more gratitude.
* You once said: "We choose the narrow path when creating plays based on literary works and patiently believe that there will be soul mates." Up to now, is the number of soul mates of Hong Hac theater large enough to continue to maintain production costs?
- Flowers are beautiful thanks to leaves, sunshine is beautiful thanks to flowers, we are very happy because each performance welcomes more… strangers. Then strangers turn into acquaintances. It's fun. In addition, we also receive support from Hung Vo Foundation so it's okay.
* What is Hong Hac's plan this year to be able to develop more in terms of the number of plays, as well as improve the quality of art to serve the audience?
- After Give Me a Ticket to Childhood, Hong Hac will re-introduce the three previous plays: Everything We Haven't Said, adapted from the novel Marc Levy, Fire Island ( Glorious Ashes ), adapted from the work of Nguyen Ngoc Tu, and My Little Angel, adapted from the story of Nguyen Nhat Anh.
At the same time, we will launch two new plays: If I Still Live, adapted from the novel of the same name by Van Le, and Please Take Care of Mom, adapted from the novel of the same name by author Shin Kyung-sook (Korea).
Audience members lined up to see the play Give Me a Ticket to Childhood and took photos with Viet Linh (in black shirt, third from right).
* You consider your life to be "less good, more lucky", is that too modest for a career that is considered a "big tree" of Vietnamese cinema with many high-quality films and a personal name that resonates internationally? For you, to be successful in the arts, in addition to talent, there must also be an element of luck?
- I use this phrase specifically for my stage branch. "Luck" is another way of saying gratitude: gratitude for fate, gratitude for sharing, gratitude for the audience...
* What are Viet Linh's plans for the future, both in the artistic fields she is working in (cinema, theater, books, etc.)?
- This March, Tre Publishing House will launch a book of my collection of articles called Lest the Ashes Fly Away , after which I will start working on two film scripts for myself and the service. In addition, I am also an official advisor on a short film project for a young person in Germany. On stage, I am directing the play If You Still Live - a touching war story that I have more or less experienced.
* What do you think when many people say that age is not important in making art, as long as the work touches the viewer's emotions; and that youthfulness does not lie in age but in the way of thinking, the way of living, and the way of looking at life that is in line with the times. Many people comment that you are always young and modern, that's why?
- I love young people, sharing their joys and anxieties. I am lucky to live in two large geographical areas, have the opportunity to watch and read a lot, so I age slowly… maybe? I am happy to be close to my children, through that I understand more about young people, and wish to accompany them for a long time.
* Thank you director Viet Linh and wish your plans great success in this new year!
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