Challenges and opportunities for young artists

VHO - After several days of exciting competition in Ho Chi Minh City, the 2026 National Cai Luong Actor Talent Competition has concluded the performances of 36 contestants from 12 professional Cai Luong art troupes nationwide.

The event serves as both a platform to discover new talents and a reflection of the challenges in training, performance environments, and career opportunities that young Cai Luong artists are facing.

Many artists and experts believe that the current generation of young talents is very promising, but to truly mature and make an impact on the public, they need more performance opportunities, practical experience on stage, and support mechanisms that are appropriate to the reality of the Cai Luong (Vietnamese traditional opera) industry.

We need more opportunities for young artists to grow .​​​​​​​​​​​

According to People's Artist Huu Quoc, Cai Luong talent competitions have always been an important environment for young artists to hone their knowledge, immerse themselves more deeply in their roles, and showcase their stage presence. He believes that most of the current competition entries are almost "solo performances," requiring contestants to sing, act, and master the character's psychology simultaneously within a short time. This pressure will help young artists mature faster if they know how to seize opportunities. "To win a high prize, you must be truly confident. This is no longer just about singing and acting, but a professional competition," he said.

People's Artist Huu Quoc also expressed many concerns about the new regulations of this year's competition, especially the requirements regarding qualifications, professional experience, and conditions for participating art units.

According to the regulations, candidates must have graduated from high school, received training in Cai Luong (Vietnamese traditional opera) acting at the intermediate level or higher, or have achieved certain professional accomplishments; they must also have worked at a professional art unit for at least 24 months.

For participating troupes, they must have at least 36 months of continuous activity, staging new plays and performing a minimum of 72 shows within those 36 months. These regulations have a positive aspect as they help professionalize young artists, but they also make it difficult for many truly talented individuals to qualify.

Another difficulty mentioned is the current shortage of theatrical performances. Most state-run troupes focus on public performances, with few commercial shows, leaving young artists with limited opportunities to hone their skills. "In the past, we performed continuously, but now many young artists only have a few shows a month. Major roles are usually taken on by established artists, making it difficult for younger generations to gain experience," lamented People's Artist Huu Quoc.

Meritorious Artist Kim Tu Long expressed that it is encouraging that Cai Luong (Vietnamese traditional opera) still has many talented and passionate young faces, but they lack the environment to practice diligently and sustain their roles for a long time. “In the past, artists could rehearse a play for months and perform it hundreds of times; that process is what made the role come alive in the hearts of the audience. Now, many plays only have a few performances before ending, so the impact isn't deep enough,” he said.

According to him, talent competitions are still very necessary because they motivate young artists to strive and give them more opportunities to prove themselves. The important thing is not just winning prizes, but providing them with a serious professional platform to grow and develop.

Having attended most of the contestants' performances, People's Artist Trieu Trung Kien - Deputy Director of the Vietnam National Traditional Arts Theatre - said he was pleased to see many promising young singers emerging in this year's competition. However, he also noted that the number of participants was significantly lower than in previous years. "Hopefully, in the future, the organizing committee will research and adjust the regulations to give local singers more opportunities to participate, thereby fully assessing the current talent pool," he said.

Sharing his thoughts with Văn Hóa (Culture) magazine regarding artists' concerns about the competition regulations, Mr. Trần Hướng Dương, Deputy Director of the Department of Performing Arts, stated that this year's competition has been tightened to be more professional, ensuring it truly reflects the nature of a professional competition for cải lương (Vietnamese traditional opera) actors, from the eligibility requirements and judging criteria to the quality of performances. The addition of requirements regarding cultural and professional qualifications aims to meet practical demands.

"These regulations aim to ensure that candidates possess both talent and a certain level of understanding. In the current context, equipping artists with basic cultural knowledge is essential for their professional activities," he said.

Artist Nguyen Thi Nguyet - Vietnam National Traditional Theatre, in her competition entry "Ly Chieu Hoang"

The competition is a career launchpad .​​​​​​

Meritorious Artist Le Nguyen Dat, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Ho Chi Minh City University of Theatre and Film - a member of the judging panel, said that what he most expects from young artists is the ability to revitalize Cai Luong (Vietnamese traditional opera) with a contemporary mindset: "I hope they bring a contemporary feel to the national stage, from singing and acting to character portrayal, while still preserving the essence of Cai Luong." According to him, for Cai Luong to develop, it must avoid repetition in performance, staging, and subject matter selection. New explorations and breakthroughs will help audiences see the renewed vitality of this traditional theatrical form.

People's Artist Triệu Trung Kiên also suggested that theaters should boldly explore new themes, the hidden aspects of contemporary life and history, to create opportunities for actors to express the psychological depth of their characters. "Cai Luong (Vietnamese traditional opera) has the potential to reflect a very broad range of life. If there are more good, unique, and engaging scripts, young artists will have more opportunities to develop their talents," he said.

Speaking to Văn Hóa magazine, director Hoa Hạ assessed that all 36 contestants are future talents of the cải lương (Vietnamese traditional opera) stage and this is a great opportunity for them to shine. “Although the competition only involves excerpts and not complete performances in a play, it provides a foundation for them to be more confident when appearing before the public and develop their careers,” director Hoa Hạ emphasized, while affirming that she will always follow and be ready to help promising young artists, including those who were not fortunate enough to win prizes in this competition.

As one of the seven talented artists who won first prize at the 2023 National Cai Luong Actor Talent Competition, young artist Nguyen Van Khoi believes that the most valuable thing about participating in professional competitions is not the achievement itself, but the opportunity to learn the craft and challenge oneself. "Each competition helps me grow, and I learn more from directors, judges, and colleagues," he said.

Nguyen Van Khoi said that after winning prizes at professional competitions, he had more opportunities to work, became more well-known to the public, and matured in his professional thinking. According to him, talent competitions are like a "launching pad" for young artists to continue pursuing their passion for art in the context of the current difficulties facing the Cai Luong stage.

The 2026 National Cai Luong Actor Talent Competition will take place in Ho Chi Minh City from May 17-23, organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in coordination with the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, under the leadership of the Department of Performing Arts, with the support of the Vietnam Stage Artists Association and the Department of Culture and Sports of Ho Chi Minh City. The closing ceremony, summary, and awards presentation are scheduled to take place on the evening of May 23 at the Tran Huu Trang Cai Luong Theatre.

Although the final results are still pending, it's clear after several days of competition that the Cai Luong (Vietnamese traditional opera) stage still has a force of young artists who are passionate and eager to pursue the profession. What they need now is not just competitions, but also more performance opportunities, more good roles, and more space to grow and develop on stage.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/nghe-thuat/thu-thach-va-co-hoi-cho-lop-nghe-si-tre-230441.html