The artistic program “Street Tales in the Subsidy Period” by the Youth Theatre of Vietnam has become a beloved sensation among the discerning audience of the capital city, skillfully resurrecting memories of Hanoi from a bygone era through the medium of music.
Entering the realm of “Street Tales in the Subsidy Period,” spectators find themselves transported back to Hanoi in the 1980s when life was rife with scarcity and challenges, yet the spiritual lives of the city dwellers were brimming with joy and vivacity.
This is not merely a musical program; “Street Tales in the Subsidy Period” unfolds like a musical narrative, guiding the audience through a family of four generations living in the ancient town of Hanoi. Each individual, with distinct personalities, occupations, and hobbies, unfolds a spectrum of emotions in their lives. Here, there is joy, sorrow, conflicts, and moments of happiness. However, above all, the music, with its enchanting melodies, acts as a healing elixir, bonding and resolving all dilemmas, uniting everyone.
“Street Tales in the Subsidy Period” boasts the participation of numerous renowned artists and singers from the Youth Theatre of Vietnam, including Meritorious Artist Duc Long, Meritorious Artist Anh Tuyet, Ton Son, Tuan Nghia, Quoc Chi, Nam Anh, Quang Thien, Quang Trong, Thanh Nhan, Ha Uyen Linh, Mai Hang, and Hong Giang.
The program features a repertoire of songs that include “Childhood Memories of the City,” “Milkwood Pine Flower” (Hong Dang), “Remembering Hanoi Autumn” (Trinh Cong Son), “Recalling Hanoi” (Hoang Hiep), “Sad City” (Lam Phuong), “Seven Days of Waiting,” “Love Story” (Tran Thien Thanh), “Like a Love Song,” “Oh Loving Life” (Nguyen Ngoc Thien), “My Small Story” (Thanh Tung), “Little Sun, Farewell Swallow” (Tran Tien), “You Are Like Sunshine” (Nguyen Duc Trung), among others.
Notably, attending “Street Tales in the Subsidy Period” allows the audience not only to enjoy the music but also to relive the nostalgic atmosphere of the subsidy era through the arrangement of coupon stalls in the theater lobby.
As shared by the director, Meritorious Artist Le Anh Tuyet: “Street Tales in the Subsidy Period” is crafted from a deep love for Hanoi, an emotional connection, and fond memories of a bygone era. The creative team aims to preserve and bring to life those memories, allowing audiences who lived through that time to revisit and the younger generation to understand, love, and appreciate the past’s values.
Following several successful performances in October and early November 2023, “Street Tales in the Subsidy Period” continues to enchant the Hanoi audience at Cinema 11 Ngo Thi Nham on the evening of November 17, 2023.