Shining the flame of passion for traditional national art

From the heroic spirit of Dong A to the contemporary epic

On the very first night of the performance, Bac Ninh Cheo Theatre left a deep impression on the audience with the epic work - "Thien Menh". Set in the early days of the Tran Dynasty - the dynasty that made Dai Viet history famous, the play depicts the image of Tran Thu Do, the founding hero, who was both firm in maintaining the discipline of the court and filled with many struggles and anguish between family love and responsibility for the country. With elaborate staging, delicate coordination between music , lighting, props and stage space, the heroic spirit of Dong A was vividly recreated in each performance.

A scene from the play "The Mandate of Heaven".

In particular, the traditional Cheo style is skillfully blended with the Quan Ho folk song, creating a smooth combination of epic and lyrical, classical and modern. Many people commented that this is a delicate creation, bringing a new breath to the Cheo stage when Quan Ho folk songs are introduced naturally, imbued with emotions, helping the younger generation love and be more proud of their homeland's heritage.

People's Artist Ta Quang Lam, Director of Bac Ninh Cheo Theatre, director of the play shared: "From many ancient stories, including the temple worshiping Grand Tutor Tran Thu Do on the Nham Bien mountain range in Yen Dung land - where the Grand Tutor once built a place to train soldiers and produce for the country, we put it into the Cheo play. Through that, we want the audience, especially the young generation, to understand more about the history, the tradition of building and defending the country, the familiar places in the homeland, and at the same time spread the value of Kinh Bac cultural heritage such as Quan Ho, Cheo...".

Along with a good script and elaborate staging, the “professional fire” - the transformation and soul-breathing of the artists into their roles - has created the special appeal of the plays. From the lyrics, singing to each beat of the drum and clapper, the audience seems to relive the glorious past to love and believe in the enduring vitality of today's Cheo art.

Also choosing historical themes and epic materials, Ninh Binh Traditional Arts Theatre has its own approach through the play "Chieu Van Vuong Tran Nhat Duat". With a tight drama structure, the ancient Cheo tone is promoted along with the subtle folk melodies, the work honors the general who is both civil and military, who always puts "humanity" first. The two plays - two different slices of history but share the same spirit of reviving national cultural values with a contemporary breath.

Meanwhile, the Cheo play “Red Rain” (Hai Phong Traditional Theatre) adapted from the novel of the same name by writer Chu Lai and directed by People’s Artist Trinh Thuy Mui skillfully harmonized between heroic and tragic elements, between harsh reality and humanistic, romantic beauty. The story took place at Quang Tri Citadel - where soldiers in their twenties fought steadfastly, ready to sacrifice their youth for the Fatherland. On stage, the Cheo language was strongly innovated: The performances were concise, the rhythm was fast, the tempo was tense but still full of poetry. The ancient Cheo melody blended with the sound of battle, the bright red light of blood and fire made each battle scene vivid and realistic. In the tragedy, there was still a gentle, romantic touch of love, of the desire to live. The story of soldiers in the midst of a rain of bombs and bullets who could fall at any time but whose hearts were always full of the desire to live, the desire to contribute to the Fatherland, moved the audience.

Continuing that emotional flow, “Hương Tràm” of Ninh Binh Traditional Arts Theatre again shows the echoes of war in today’s life. The consequences of war are still there, but like the cajuput tree in the U Minh forest, the Vietnamese people still rise up, keeping their faith and desire to live. Works on the theme of revolutionary war such as “Mầu đỏ” and “Hương Tràm” not only recall a time of fire and war but also arouse the depth of humanity, reminding viewers to cherish peace and be grateful to those who sacrificed for the Fatherland. According to the leader of Ninh Binh Traditional Arts Theatre, the unit brought 4 plays to the Festival - the most among the participating troupes with the desire to contribute to spreading the beauty and humanistic values of Cheo art in today’s life.

The roles and melodies captivate people

Along with a good script and elaborate staging, the "professional fire" - the transformation and soul-breathing of the artists into their roles - has created a special appeal for the plays. In the play "Thien Menh", artist Ba Chung left a strong impression through the character of Grand Tutor Tran Thu Do. He fully expressed the heroic spirit of a famous general, while deeply portraying the inner turmoil when forced to sacrifice family love for a greater cause. Every look, voice, and appearance of the artist exuded genuine emotions. In addition, Meritorious Artist Quynh Mai continued to conquer the audience with her sweet, powerful Cheo voice and soft, delicate acting. The scene where Grand Tutor Tran Thu Do and his wife Tran Thi Dung confided in each other amid the hustle and bustle of national affairs was considered a highlight. When the Grand Tutor recalled the love song he heard during his inspection trip to Lang Giang, his wife sang a soulful Quan Ho tune: “You are my friend, you have to love me... Because of me today, a, I long for you - because of me today, a, I miss you, my love...”. Artist Quynh Mai's resonant - rumbling - deep - bouncy voice captivated the audience. Although it was almost midnight, the large auditorium at the Bac Ninh Cultural - Exhibition Center was still packed with people. Mrs. Do Thi Hoa (Viet Yen ward) excitedly said: “The content of the Cheo play is good, the artists performed wonderfully. It was worth my time riding my motorbike more than 15 km to see it live.”

Artists of Hai Phong Traditional Theater perform the play "Red Rain".

Also burning herself out on stage, Meritorious Artist Thuy Duong of Hai Phong Traditional Theatre - who plays the role of "O Hong" in "Red Rain" shared: "This role is really a big challenge because I have to speak with a Hue accent and express the youthful, vibrant and enthusiastic features of a 19-year-old student volunteering to go to the battlefield. But it is the admiration and gratitude that give me the strength to overcome obstacles and live fully with the character."

From epics to reality, from heroic and heroic songs to everyday stories imbued with humanity, the 2025 National Cheo Festival shows a new and vibrant face of Cheo art. Artists are constantly exploring and innovating in staging and expression, combining tradition and the breath of the times while still maintaining their own identity. The endless applause and sincere praise from the Bac Ninh audience is proof of the passionate love for Cheo here. The Art Council highly appreciates the efforts of the troupes from the script, music to staging, all of which exude creativity, professionalism and dedication to the profession.

In the coming days, the public will continue to enjoy a series of free plays such as: "The Story of the Tran Dynasty Princess" (Vietnam National Traditional Theatre), "Between Two Muddy Streams" (Hung Yen Cheo Theatre), "Memories of the Thuong River" (Bac Ninh Cheo Theatre), "Nam Viet Emperor - Ten Thousand Spring" (Thai Nguyen Ethnic Groups Art Troupe), "The Heavy Burden of Mountains and Rivers" (Hanoi Cheo Theatre), "Nguyen Van Cu - Great Youth" (Army Cheo Theatre)... promising to bring many emotions and unique artistic experiences. Each play, each melody will be a unique sound in the symphony of national art. The festival is a gathering of souls where the flame of passion for national art is lit, spreading the belief in the enduring vitality of Cheo - a type of theater that has been, is and will forever accompany the spiritual life of Vietnamese people.

Le Thanh - Tuyet Anh

Source: https://baobacninhtv.vn/toa-sang-ngon-lua-dam-me-nghe-thuat-truyen-thong-dan-toc-postid429589.bbg