The Enchanted Crossbow: A journey of cultural exchange, rekindling national spirit.

On the evenings of April 19th and 20th, at the Ho Chi Minh City Opera House, Victoria Bilingual International School will stage the musical The Enchanted Crossbow – a unique theatrical production inspired by the legend of the Magic Crossbow and presented in a modern Broadway style, blending the romantic and tragic spirit of Romeo & Juliet.

This is a prime example of art in Victoria School's integrated education program, making art a means of nurturing the soul, developing emotions, and fostering multifaceted thinking in the younger generation.

The performance marks a pioneering step for the school as it is the first time a student musical has been produced on a professional scale, approaching international stage standards – while clearly demonstrating the school's liberal education orientation in a bilingual secondary school environment, where students are comprehensively developed and firmly integrated into the global community.

Victoria School students gave their first professional musical performance at the City Theatre.

National legends are retold in modern, emotionally rich language.

Instead of recounting history in the style of classical epics, The Enchanted Crossbow approaches the story of My Chau and Trong Thuy from a fresh, relatable, and highly expressive perspective.

Music, lighting, movement, and stage emotion become the primary language guiding the audience through a journey of love, loyalty, conflict, and symbolic choices. The performance skillfully conveys the message of prioritizing national interests over personal feelings, emphasizing the aspiration for peace and national pride – important values that need to be nurtured from a young age.

When Vietnamese culture flourishes on the Broadway stage in schools.

Under the meticulous direction of stage experts and with artistic consultation from the Vietnam Youth Theatre, the performance offers a visually stunning experience for the audience with its modern Broadway-style stage design: lighting effects, scene transitions, music , and choreography are all carefully crafted. The musical arrangements, specially composed for each segment, combine traditional instruments with modern elements, creating an exhilarating emotional experience throughout the 80-minute performance.

Many creative details left a deep impression on the audience: the Golden Turtle God appeared in a relatable, youthful image with a surprising "English rap" performance; the song "Mother Loves You" was performed bilingually, leaving the audience silent for several moments; and the familiar song "Bong Bong Bang Bang" was adapted into English with lively and captivating dance moves.

Over 50 Victoria School students shone on stage at "The Enchanted Crossbow".

The stage – an open classroom for students' growth and confidence.

What makes The Enchanted Crossbow so special and valuable lies not only in its content and form, but also in its cast – over 50 students from Victoria School, from elementary to high school.

The students performed with confidence, genuine emotion, and powerful immersion in their roles. The stage became an open classroom where students honed their discipline, teamwork, expressive abilities, and emotional control – in line with the school's "learning by doing - experiencing by doing" approach.

Two nights of performances - leaving a profound impact on the audience and the community.

The two nights of The Enchanted Crossbow performances concluded to thunderous applause and emotions that spread throughout the auditorium. The serious investment, disciplined work ethic, and performance exceeding expectations of the Victoria students truly touched the hearts of the audience.

Many viewers are excited about the plot developments in "The Enchanted Crossbow".

Meritorious Artist Chí Trung, the project's artistic advisor, expressed: " I was truly surprised by the abilities and seriousness of the students – from young to old. Despite guidance from the Youth Theatre, it was the students' initiative and effort that made the project a success. This is a very valuable model of school theatre. If it is replicated, I believe it will inspire many other international schools to implement arts in their curriculum."

“This is a cultural and educational gift deeply rooted in Vietnamese identity within an international school. Victoria School has created a new standard for modern general education,” affirmed Christopher Bradley, Headmaster of Victoria School - South Saigon.

From the parents' perspective, heartfelt messages were sent to the teachers and the school. One parent of a 6th-grade student emotionally said:

“After the performance, my child was silent and just cried. She said the last rehearsal was the saddest thing because she didn't know when she would see her friends again. For two months, she set her own alarms, didn't miss a single rehearsal, and now she just wants to continue performing on stage. The family is truly grateful because this is an emotional journey she will never forget.”

Another parent said:

"Before, my child used to complain about being tired every time they went to rehearsals, but after the performance, they only asked: 'When can I go to theater rehearsals again?' To me, that's the most genuine compliment for the program."

Audience member Phuong Lan also shared:

“A performance that was overwhelming both emotionally and technically. The students performed like professional artists. The layers of Vietnamese culture were subtly conveyed in English. If the performance were to tour to introduce Vietnamese culture to the world, it would be truly something to be proud of.”

The students and teachers became closer after completing the performance.

Many parents also shared that, after watching the older students perform, their younger children asked to participate in the next season. More than just a school stage program, The Enchanted Crossbow touches hearts and opens a door to emotionally rich art and education for students and the community.

Affirming the philosophy of liberal education - nurturing global citizens.

The Enchanted Crossbow marks a new step forward in Victoria School's integrated arts education journey. It's not just a performance stage, but a creative educational space where each student develops their emotions, abilities, and national pride, preparing them for global integration.

About Victoria School
Victoria School is a Cambridge bilingual international school system, oriented towards holistic development based on UNESCO's "Happy School" model. Committed to providing a seamless learning journey, integrating the best of Vietnamese and international curricula with a green, technologically advanced, and humane environment, Victoria School continuously strives to create happy, creative, responsible global citizens with a strong Vietnamese identity.
Contact information
Hotline: 1900 68 08
Website: www.victoriaschool.edu.vn

Ha An

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/the-enchanted-crossbow-hanh-trinh-giao-thoa-van-hoa-khoi-day-tinh-than-dan-toc-ar938992.html