Ho Chi Minh City’s newest traditional theatre Non La (Cone Hat) will have its debut show “Ngoc Viet” (Vietnam’s Pearls) featuring 13 musical performances next Monday at Lao Dong Cultural House in District 1.
Director Huynh Anh Tuan, head of the theatre talked to Sai Gon Tiep Thi Newspaper about the newest entertainment venue that will showcase Vietnam’s traditional art for foreign visitors.
Non La Theatre, the name sounds both familiar and strange. How did you come up with idea of this theatre?
Together with ao dai, non la is a symbol of the Vietnamese culture. I had this idea 6 years ago when I founded the Rong Vang Water Puppet Theatre, but I could not find a suitable venue.
The success of Rong Vang has inspired me to establish theatres like Non La to introduce Vietnam’s traditional musicals such as hat boi, cheo, nha nhac, cai luong, and ca tru..to international tourists. Fortunately, I have found support from the management board of Lao Dong Cultural House. After months of preparation, we are now ready to welcome our guests.
Where do your staff and artists come from?
A band of 10 musicians come from Rong Vang, they will work in Non La as well. When it is necessary, we will hire other musicians from outside. There are many good traditional artists nowadays, the only thing they don’t have is a good working environment and benefits. We have a group of very talented and versatile staff, who can either act, dance, make props, stage costumes or design stages etc.
Do you offer a dining service as well?
To attract more guests, we provide a light meal with each ticket purchased. The menu includes world-famous Vietnamese food such as pho, and spring roll, and we only serve them during our show.
And will there be more Non La Theatres in other provinces?
Foreign tourists don’t just come to Ho Chi Minh City therefore I am opening two other branches in Da Nang and Can Tho in 2012. There we will have free classes and training courses for our staff.
“Ngoc Viet” (Vietnam’s Pearls) opens at 8pm, February 20 at Lao Dong Cultural House at 55B Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, District 1, HCMC.
