Thang Long Puppet Theater and Hanoi Drama Theater Win “Golden Prize” at Hanoi Open Theater Festival 2024
On the evening of November 9, the closing ceremony of the Hanoi Open Theater Festival 2024 took place at Dai Nam Theater. Organized by the Vietnam Theater Artists Association in collaboration with the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports, the festival ran from November 1 to 9 at various performance venues across Hanoi.
In his closing remarks, Pham Xuan Tai, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports, emphasized that the 12 theatrical productions presented at the festival, spanning genres such as Cheo, Tuong, Cai Luong, spoken drama, and puppetry, demonstrated a serious investment in scripts, meticulous staging, and unique artistic creativity. Using the language of theater, the productions portrayed a rich spectrum of stories – from historical and legendary to folk and contemporary themes – celebrating the indomitable spirit of the Vietnamese people in building and defending the nation. These performances evoked profound emotions and left a lasting impression on audiences in Hanoi and beyond.
Golden medals awarded for outstanding performances – Photo: Linh Tran
Commenting on the festival, Ha Dinh Can, writer, playwright, and Chairman of the Jury, stated: “The Hanoi Open Theater Festival 2024 has concluded, leaving behind the resonance of a successful event. The 12 productions, like 12 ‘sweet oranges,’ provided audiences with unforgettable experiences, featuring stories about Ho Xuan Huong, Ly Thuong Kiet, General Vo Nguyen Giap, the Emperor of the Reed Flag, the Woman from Nam Xuong, the young women of Hanoi singing A Dao, and Hanoi scholars contributing to the resistance and the capital’s reconstruction.” These narratives, he added, will continue to resonate with audiences for a long time. He also highlighted the dedication of seasoned theater veterans who remain committed to their craft and the emergence of a talented new generation of artists. The festival showcased innovation in theatrical art – from stage design to performance styles – that, while fresh, remained accessible and warmly embraced by audiences. This reception, he noted, marked the festival’s success.
The organizers awarded Golden Medals for three productions: “General Vo Nguyen Giap” by the Army Cheo Theater; “Khoang Trong” (The Void) by the Hanoi Drama Theater; and “The Emperor of the Reed Flag” by the Thang Long Puppet Theater. Silver Medals were awarded to four productions: “Ho Xuan Huong” by the Hai Phong Cheo Troupe; “The Woman from Nam Xuong” by the Vietnam Tuong Theater; “The Ballad Singer” by the Hanoi Cheo Theater; and “Ly Thuong Kiet” by the Hanoi Cai Luong Theater.
Silver medals awarded for outstanding performances – Photo: Linh Tran
Additionally, the festival presented 27 Golden Medals and 35 Silver Medals to exceptional individual performers, along with 13 special awards recognizing achievements in directing, scriptwriting, adaptation, choreography, music composition, stage design, puppet creation (both water and dry puppets), lighting, orchestration, and musical performance.
Hanoi’s theatrical groups achieved significant recognition at the festival, with two Golden Medal-winning productions: “Khoang Trong” (The Void) by the Hanoi Drama Theater and “The Emperor of the Reed Flag” by the Thang Long Puppet Theater. Two Silver Medal-winning productions were also awarded: “The Ballad Singer” by the Hanoi Cheo Theater and “Ly Thuong Kiet” by the Hanoi Cai Luong Theater.
“The Emperor of the Reed Flag” by Thang Long Puppet Theater
The Hanoi Drama Theater’s production “Khoang Trong” not only secured a Golden Medal but also earned playwright Nguyen Anh Bien the award for Best Scriptwriter. Additionally, the theater’s artists received three Golden Medals and two Silver Medals for individual performances.
The Thang Long Puppet Theater’s production “The Emperor of the Reed Flag” also won a Golden Medal. Talented artist Xuan Long received the Special Award for Water and Dry Puppet Design. The theater’s artists collectively secured five Golden Medals and four Silver Medals for individual contributions.
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