The counter closes at 6.45 pm to 7.30 pm. The most famous water puppet show in Hanoi is shown at the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre located at the northeast end of Hoan Kiem Lake. Mini-firework was added to enhance dramatic moments This exciting performance also comes with special effects such as smoke and mini-fireworks, plus traditional music played by old folks. The live music plays a crucial part of the show with singers often shouting encouraged words to the puppets. Most shows also feature the famous Legend of the Restored Sword of King Le, which tells the tale of Hoan Kiem Lake and the giant tortoise. Today’s performances usually include a number of short spoken stories rather than long ones, taking the audience on a journey of ancient village life, agricultural harvests and Vietnamese folk tales. Overview of a stage in Thang Long theater It is also painted to protect them from water damage. The puppeteers are situated behind a screen and stand in waist deep water controlling the puppets with long wooden sticks that mostly are under the water. It used to be performed by farmers in paddy fields for centuries, and is handed down from generation to generation.Ī puppeteer was preparing before the show This area consists of numerous rivers and is often prone to flooding.It is said that it is important to enjoy the water puppet when they have a chance to visit Hanoi. Evidence of the link between water puppetry and farming can be seen in the traditional puppetry guilds, which are located around the fertile land of the Red River Delta. Water puppetry is believed to have originated from the villages of the Red River Delta in the 11th century when the performing guilds of nine northern provinces practiced the art. Vietnam is famous globally for its unique water puppetry. The fourth International Puppetry Festival will take place in Hanoi from October 10-16, drawing puppeteers from host Vietnam and nine other countries.įoreign troupes will come from Russia, the UK, Germany, Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, Belgium and the Philippines. We have integrated old and new materials in an appropriate manner, so I believe the show will be unique and accepted by even the most discerning audiences. The bull has some shape of the traditional unicorn, while the bullfighter can swim excellently. Q: How do you use traditional materials in the new show?Ī: We created the ballerina team with a reference to the traditional fairies. New experiments also help our artists feel the difference, and enhance their sense of aesthetics and creativeness. Q: So what will the traditional water puppetry gain from such new experiments?Ī: It is the possibility to widen the audience as Vietnamese water puppetry can also engage in themes from foreign cultures and arts, not only cheo (traditional opera), folk songs, or traditional musical instruments. I used to create Sumo fighter water puppets and puppets wearing kimono for a show in Japan, and it was warmly welcomed by local audiences. The show expresses cultural interaction so I believe that it will be welcome in the context of international cultural exchange programmes. You can see the high pressure in bullfighting, but when it is expressed by water puppets, you can still feel the innocence.Ī: You will not see any pain or pressure in the show, but rather joy, purity and a shimmering landscape - it is very Vietnamese. But I think it is possible because the arts such as drama, dance, and ballet can express diverse moods. There are a lot of challenges, especially how to make the puppets dance ballet, as well as bring life to the puppets made in the shape of western ballet dancers and bullfighters, with western classical music in the space of the aquatic stage of Vietnamese water puppetry. Q: Putting European culture on the stage of Vietnamese water puppetry sounds fascinating, but isn’t it quite challenging?Ī: I have had the idea for these two performances for a long time but it wasn’t until this year that we have had the chance to bring it to life for the occasion of the fourth International Puppetry Festival, scheduled to take place in Hanoi from October 10-16.
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