Recently, two contestants from Tay Do Theater won high prizes in the 2020 National Cai Luong (reformed theater) Contest. Artist Kim Ngan who took the role of Nguyen Thi Lo in the excerpt “Oan Khien*” (Luu Quang Ha (writer), Dang Huy (adapter)) won the gold medal; Artist Hong Giang who took the role of lady Phan Si in the excerpt “Love and Fame” (Van Trong Hung (writer), Vu Huy (adapter)) was awarded the promising talent award. These are two young female artists, following the steps of predecessors at Tay Do Theater who have achieved many artistic achievements such as Hoang Khanh, Chau Ngan, Phuong Anh, Hong Thuy, Le Duy ...

Not long before that, two other artists of Tay Do Theater entered the final round of the national Tran Huu Trang Cai Luong Talented Performers 2020. Specifically, artist Hai Linh won the gold medal for his role as a showman in the excerpt “Miền nhớ” (The memory land), in the category of “kép lão”. Some of the above achievements show the investment of Can Tho in human resources for a professional reformed theater.

According to statistics, there is a large number of people working in the field of performing arts of Can Tho city, with about 138 artists and actors; not including more than 1000 collaborators. Tay Do theater now has only Cai Luong Tay Do group with 13 performers after its professional artists, dancers, performers moved to Can Tho Cultural Center.

Over the past few years, Tay Do Theater has been equipped with a sound and light system of nearly 1 billion VND from the national target program on culture. The Can Tho Cultural Center is also equipped with a sound and lighting system, a stage light frame, and an LED screen with a total of nearly 7.3 billion VND from the city budget. This investment has basically met the needs of activities and performances of cultural institutions in Can Tho city.

A prominent point in the development of performing arts in Can Tho is the presence of non-public art units. Up to now, the city has licensed more than 20 units of performing arts and fashion in the area; welcoming 80 non-public art groups to Can Tho city. Several companies operating in the field of art in Can Tho are present in many programs and events such as Hong Anh dance group, Tay Do Model, Viet Anh Duong Dragon Dance group, and Mat Troi Be Con kid’s club, etc. Mr. Le Quang Viet, Head of Viet Anh Duong Dragon Dance group, said: “We see performing arts as an opportunity to improve ourselves, meet others and learn more skills”.

However, it can be seen clearly that the number of professional artists and actors in Can Tho city is “aging”. Specifically, the youngest artist in the Cai Luong Tay Do group is nearly 30 years old. Moreover, the average age of the artists in the group is also over 40 as the next generation is becoming less and less.

Mr. Hong Quoc Khanh, Director of Tay Do Theater, explained: “Some performers are still passive as they don’t make good compositions, just use old materials. With the periodic stage performance, almost not attracting the audience because of the small budget, not enough investment to carry out the large-scale program. “The show is performed on-site so it is not widely known to viewers. Moreover, there is a lack of coordination with the local television station to bring the work to the public”.

In addition to human resources training, Mr. Hong Quoc Khanh said that there should be suitable additional remuneration for artists. According to current regulations, the bonus for each performance is from 100,000 VND to 120,000 VND/person.

As an expert in the field of culture, composer Nham Hung, former Deputy Director of Tay Do Theater, is also concerned about the human resources training (writers, screenwriters, and directors) in Cai Luong (reformed theatre). Over the years, when the Cai Luong Tay Do group wrote a new play, they had to hire a scriptwriter, a choreographer, etc. This is sometimes very passive and rather superficial. Speaking of the “aging” issue, Mr. Nham Hung said that it is necessary to “solve” the problem quickly for “the long-term goals”.

* Oan Khien: being a victim of a gross injustice