'I am past the age of working arbitrarily and seeking fame and fortune'

These days, the Hong Hac stage crew of "captain" Viet Linh has received a lot of good news. The unit celebrates its 8th birthday after a period when the city's stage has "blossomed" with many outstanding works; the new direction of the stage - reading plays after touring many places in the city has also been positively received by the audience. Now, Hong Hac is preparing to re-perform some plays that have made a mark for this unit as well as launching new plays in early 2025. Director Viet Linh has the opportunity to share about what has passed and what is new to come.

* Hong Hac Stage has existed for 8 years, despite concerns that it would soon collapse when you first established it. What would you say about this?

- Director Viet Linh: 8 years is a long time for a serious artistic intention, of a capable and dedicated team. You use the word collapse, it sounds scary, but that was a risk we faced. We have survived until today thanks to our love for art, knowing how to share difficulties, knowing how to respect and be grateful to the audience and donors.

Director Viet Linh and the crew of the new play If I Could Live

* Colleagues and audiences are very interested in the way you gradually erase the boundary between cinema - the field that made your name - and the stage. Can you share more about this idea in your performance on the Hong Hac stage?

- I come from and have worked in the film industry for many years, so wanting to do theater that is close to cinema is a natural feeling. The two most obvious cinematic signs at Hong Hac stage are the meticulous lighting and the unexaggerated acting.

Director Viet Linh thanks the audience after the re-performance of My Little Angel at the Thanh Nien Theater (HCMC)

* I'm very happy to have a stage that affirms "keeping the literary quality of the script", however, what do you think about the opinion that some of Hong Hac's plays are good but lack theatrical elements?

- We have heard this opinion, but as shared, Hong Hac chose a different style. Our slogan is to honor emotions - to leave some echoes in the audience's hearts when the play ends. The right to choose belongs to the audience, we just do our best in what we choose. Fire Island - our old play had almost no "pieces" but it was a play that we were passionate about, deeply moved by.

Director Viet Linh focuses on Hong Hac's new reading and performance form

* Has your perspective on literary theater changed over time compared to reality? And have you ever thought that Hong Hac would have to change - become more "marketable" to attract audiences?

- Hong Hac, although small, is a different flavor among many flavors of the city's theater scene. With a serious spirit of learning, we always follow many other stages, observe the tastes of the mass audience to "move", change with the general flow... But if I had to change so that I was no longer myself, I would not have "bleeded" to create this stage (laughs) .

Writer Marc Levy and family to tour with Flamingos

* What are your current plans for the Hong Hac stage?

- In addition to the newly opened and supported drama reading program, the Hong Hac Cinema Club will reopen. On November 26, we will re-perform the play Fire Island (adapted from the two short stories Brilliant Ashes and Island by Nguyen Ngoc Tu). On December 3, we will re-perform the play Eugenie Grandet. and in early 2025, the play If I Still Live (based on the novel of the same name by writer Van Le) will be performed - Hong Hac's first war-themed play. In particular, if nothing changes, at the end of June 2025, writer Marc Levy and his family will return to Vietnam to tour with us the play Everything We Haven't Said .

After the play reading format received widespread attention from the audience, director Viet Linh and his crew continue to prepare for new projects in 2025.

* According to Hong Hac's announcement, the play " The Devil's Hour " will be performed on November 9 at the Painter Cafe (15 Phan Ke Binh, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City). In a short time, Hong Hac's play has been performed for the 9th time in many places; that proves that this genre is being welcomed. Why do you like doing play reading, and what is your assessment of the future of this genre?

- Hong Hac Stage is based on literature, so the play still follows the same path, only the method of expression is different. The play is welcomed perhaps because it is different, concise but still full of emotions. You use words in many places, which means we can tour... And we really hope to spread it more widely to the community...

* Looking back on the past, have you ever felt like you "risked your life" when opening Hong Hac stage as many people say? And has your love for the stage faded?

- I am past the age of working on a whim, also past the age of seeking fame and fortune. I simply like what makes me happy, believing it is useful to society, to the young generation. For my health, there will come a time when I will have to stop, but for now the crew is still "working hard but having fun", the audience still loves me, and the philanthropists still trust me...

* Besides coordinating the Hong Hac Film Club, what projects are you currently and will be doing in the film industry?

- Yes. But wait...

* Thank you for sharing! Wish you good health.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/dao-dien-viet-linh-toi-da-qua-tuoi-lao-dong-tuy-hung-cau-canh-vinh-hoa-185241031170219545.htm