Following the initiation of the Stage Script Creation Camp, the Organizing Committee received enthusiastic responses from 29 authors who submitted a total of 50 stage scripts. These included 44 short plays, comedic sketches, and 6 traditional cheo scripts. The works authentically reflected the lives of the people in their daily activities and production, preserving traditional cultural values, upholding high moral and humane values, and contributing to the elegant and civilized image of Hanoians.
On the evening of December 15, at the outdoor stage located at 7 Phung Hung Street, Ha Dong, the City Cultural Center organized the Closing Ceremony and Report Presentation for the Stage Script Creation Camp – Hanoi 2023. The event also marked the introduction of the stage script publication “Love for Hanoi.”
Among the distinguished guests were Mr. Luong Duc Thang, Deputy Director of the Basic Culture Department (Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism); Ms. Ly Thi Thuy Hanh, Director of the City Cultural Center; People’s Artist Nguyen Hoang Tuan – Chairman of the Hanoi Stage Artists Association; Scriptwriter Le Quy Hien, Vietnam Stage Artists Association; Scriptwriter Hoang Thanh Du; representatives from the Cultural, Information, and Sports Centers of districts, towns, and cities; and the participating scriptwriters.
Art performance to welcome guests
Delegates and a large number of citizens attended the Closing Ceremony.
In her closing remarks, Ms. Ly Thi Thuy Hanh emphasized that over the past years, alongside the rich development of literature and art in general, stage plays, in particular, have played a significant role in the cultural and spiritual life of the capital’s residents. This has propelled the growth of amateur theater, transforming it into a platform for the people, directly engaging in creation and enjoyment. The City Cultural Center has published numerous valuable and artistically high-quality stage play collections, including the anthology “Love for Hanoi I.”
To encourage, inspire, and foster the development of amateur theatrical activities, meeting the creative and artistic needs of the people in Hanoi, the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports entrusted the City Cultural Center with organizing the Stage Script Creation Camp – Hanoi 2023, themed “Love for Hanoi II.”
Ms. Ly Thi Thuy Hanh, Director of the City Cultural Center, summarized the Stage Script Creation Camp.
The stage script creation camp has garnered enthusiastic participation from authors and collaborators, contributing vibrant, diverse, artistic, humane, and educationally rich stage scripts. These scripts reflect the practical aspects of people’s lives, their daily activities, and productive labor. They also aim to preserve traditional cultural values, uphold high moral and humane values, and contribute to shaping an elegant, cultured image of the people of Hanoi. This endeavor plays a crucial role in enhancing the spiritual life of the citizens, preserving and promoting the distinctive national cultural identity, and amplifying the voices of those engaged in cultural and artistic work to build an increasingly sophisticated, prosperous, and developed capital.
“Through the initiation of the Stage Script Creation Camp, the Organizing Committee received responses from 29 authors who submitted a total of 50 stage scripts, including 44 short plays, comedic sketches, and 6 traditional cheo scripts. These works authentically portray the lives of the people in their daily activities and productive labor, preserving traditional cultural values. They also contribute to upholding moral and humane values, constructing the refined and cultured image of Hanoi, and addressing pressing current issues related to the implementation of legal regulations, the fight against social evils, the cultivation of urban civility tied to the movement ‘National Unity to Build New Countryside and Civilized City,’ and the awareness of citizens in pandemic prevention, environmental protection, and adherence to the two Codes of Conduct issued by the Hanoi People’s Committee,” emphasized Ms. Ly Thi Thuy Hanh.
Scriptwriter Le Quy Hien, Head of the Evaluation Board, offered insights on the Stage Script Creation Camp.
Providing an artistic quality assessment of the Stage Script Creation Camp, scriptwriter Le Quy Hien, Head of the Evaluation Board, remarked: “The 50 scripts participating in the stage script creation camp are full of civic and artistic spirit, constituting the most significant award – the ‘Love for Hanoi’ award that authors dedicate to the Organizing Committee and the Capital’s Stage. In this competition, both non-professional and professional authors, including a Ph.D. laureate of the State Award, and renowned Cheo scriptwriters participated. The scripts are excellent, and the City Cultural Center’s decision to publish them into a tangible form will be valuable and practical for grassroots cultural movements.
This year’s stage script creation camp differs from previous editions with themes like “Planned Parenthood,” “Traffic Safety,” “Fire Prevention and Fighting,” and “Combatting Drug Abuse.” The focus this time is on the diverse theme of “Love for Hanoi.” Authors have shown comprehensive attention to the issues facing Hanoi and the nation, expressing their artistic hearts and citizen responsibility. It is genuinely commendable. There are scripts depicting the beauty of the silk weaving craft as smooth and elegant as the fabric itself, and others addressing issues impacting individual perceptions, touching the hearts of readers.
The Short Play “The Price to Pay” – A script participating in the Stage Script Creation Camp in Hanoi 2023, presented by the Mobile Propaganda Team of the Hoang Mai District’s Center for Culture, Information, and Sports.
The speaker also raised some experiential points: Writing short plays and sketches differs from writing longer plays, so new authors should bear in mind to envision the events unfolding on the stage. Writing eight pages but shifting scenes six times will prove challenging.
As a participant in the stage script creation camp, Ms. Nguyen Thi Le Dung shared her insights: The stage script creation camp with the theme “Love for Hanoi II” holds a highly humane character. As a female author, she is delighted and proud to participate with the love for her profession and the passion of a writer. Inspired by the love for Hanoi, she crafted a traditional Cheo script titled “The Silken Girl,” focusing on the ideological theme of preserving and developing traditional Vietnamese handicraft villages facing decline and loss. The stage script creation camp provided a fortunate opportunity for her to showcase her work.
The Organizing Committee awarded Certificates, flowers, and publications to the prize-winning authors.
Acknowledging the contributions of the authors participating in the Stage Script Creation Camp in Hanoi 2023, the Director of the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports decided to issue Certificates and commendations for 25 awards, including 2 First Prizes, 3 Second Prizes, 10 Third Prizes, and 10 Consolation Prizes. The two First Prizes belong to the category of Spoken Drama: The script “The Price to Pay” by author An Ninh, and in the category of Traditional Musical Drama: The script “The Silken Girl” by author Nguyen Thi Le Dung.
On this occasion, the City Cultural Center proudly introduces the Compilation of Stage Scripts “Love for Hanoi II,” comprising 25 exemplary scripts from 24 authors selected from the Stage Script Creation Camp in Hanoi 2023. This publication will serve as a rich source of scripts for the theatrical activities in the capital.
Thao Nhi
Photos by: Nguyen Anh Tung