Seeking new ways of expression for the stage.

On the afternoon of November 23rd, the Vietnam Association of Theatre Artists, in collaboration with the Ninh Binh Provincial People's Committee, organized the "6th International Experimental Theatre Festival - 2025" workshop, with the participation of international experts, directors, and artists.

After reviewing the content and artistic quality of the 13 plays that competed in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi , Hai Phong, and Ninh Binh, Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Thi Minh Thai stated that experimental theater is not a pursuit of "formal anomalies," but rather a process of searching for new ways of expressing the issues that theater presents.

"Experiments must be based on tradition, on the very core of national culture. If you only 'make things different' without delving into the audience's emotions, then it's not a true experiment," Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Thi Minh Thai emphasized.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Minh Thai presented the introductory remarks at the conference.

According to People's Artist Trinh Thuy Mui, President of the Vietnam Association of Theatre Artists, experimentation must be linked to intellectual depth and not be separate from the entertainment needs of contemporary audiences, especially young audiences.

One of the key topics of interest at the workshop was the potential for revitalizing traditional art forms such as cheo, cai luong, tuong, and spoken drama, while also expanding into the dramatization of circus arts.

According to Nguyen The Khoa, Deputy Director of the Institute for Research on Conservation and Promotion of National Culture, "the important thing is to find one's own unique identity, and the experimentation process must be creative, not about becoming a copycat."

The Chairwoman of the Vietnam Association of Theatre Artists, People's Artist Trinh Thuy Mui, shared her thoughts at the conference.

The Director of the Vietnam Circus Federation, People's Artist Tong Toan Thang, recounted that he used to be concerned that Vietnamese circus art seemed to only possess technique, but had not yet truly found its own unique language.

"But in the process of artistic creation, through daily training, experimentation, and innovation, we gradually incorporated theatrical elements deeper into the structure of the circus, using the very language of circus to illustrate, portray characters, and clarify the story."

From that point on, we realized that the audience began to better understand the content, emotions, and spirit of the performance. We wouldn't dare say we've created a play, but we've tried to tell a story through the language of circus, a storytelling method that combines physical expression, emotion, and direct interaction with the audience."

Vietnamese and international artists at the workshop

Considering that "theatrical circus is not simply about storytelling through acrobatic movements, but about transforming the artist's body into a language of thought," Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Thi Minh Thai asserts that, if done correctly, this will be a potential space for Vietnamese theater to make its own mark on the international experimental theater map.

The discussions at the workshop not only provided professional input for the 6th International Experimental Theatre Festival, but also served as an invitation to Vietnamese theatre to be different, to dare to go further without losing its cultural core.

Source: https://bvhttdl.gov.vn/tim-kiem-cach-bieu-dat-moi-cho-san-khau-20251124095301923.htm