The play 'The Elderly Carrying Benches' opens the 2025 Experimental Theatre Festival

The play "The Elderly Carrying the Bent Backs" by the Ninh Binh Traditional Arts Theater will be performed on the evening of November 20 at Pham Thi Tran Theater (Ninh Binh), opening the journey to participate in the "VI International Experimental Theater Festival - 2025". The play is an echo of the heritage and an invitation from the International Experimental Theater Festival 2025...

Based on the script by Nguyen Duc Minh, director Le Quy Duong adapted it into a bold experimental work, conveying the main message: "Return all things to their true value."

The story of the Sai family is a warning about the deviation in morality, the breakdown of family traditions and the consequences when people follow their desires and forget their inherited kindness.

The play "The old men carrying hunched shoulders" combines traditional opera, reformed opera, puppetry, dance and music in a modern dramatic structure (Photo: Organizing Committee)

Regarding the creative direction, director Le Quy Duong emphasized: "We want to take the audience on a challenging experimental journey - from handling conventional spaces, breaking the structure of costumes to combining electronic music with traditional instruments, appearing in the human world - the underworld at the same time. The most important thing is that the work must touch the thoughts of people today: return all values ​​to their rightful place."

People's Artist Nguyen Quang Thap, Director of Ninh Binh Traditional Arts Theater, shared: "The play is a great effort of the collective artists in the early days of the theater's operation. We wish to introduce to international friends a new face of traditional Vietnamese theater, respecting heritage but constantly creating. The companionship of the audience and experts is the strongest source of motivation for us."

The play "The Elderly Carrying the Hunched Shoulders" combines traditional Cheo, Cai Luong, puppetry, dance and music in a modern dramatic structure, promising to become the highlight of this year's Festival, where Vietnamese and international artists meet, exchange and promote the creative spirit of contemporary theater.

The work affirms the theater's orientation: preserving the quintessence, promoting creativity, and integrating internationally. Born in the cradle of Hoa Lu heritage but aiming for a new vision, Ninh Binh Traditional Arts Theater hopes to become an important convergence point of traditional theater, contributing to the development strategy of Vietnam's cultural industry in the new period.

In the context of traditional theater needing more public attention, the play is expected to receive the attention of audiences, researchers - critics, art students and those who appreciate national cultural values.

The 6th International Experimental Theatre Festival - 2025, chaired by the Vietnam Association of Stage Artists , in coordination with the People's Committee of Ninh Binh province, took place from November 15-30 in 4 provinces and cities: Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong. Nearly 1,000 artists from nearly 30 professional international and Vietnamese stage art units participated, bringing 29 typical experimental stage plays. Of which, there were 10 works by 9 international units from the following countries: Philippines, Poland, China, Korea, Israel, Japan, Mongolia, Uzbekistan.

Source: https://baophapluat.vn/vo-dien-cac-cu-ganh-cong-lung-khai-mac-festival-san-khau-thu-nghiem-2025.html