HCM CITY— The 5B Small Theatre is preparing to stage a series of new shows for children this summer that will acquaint them with folk stories, fairy tales and traditional culture. 

The shows presented by the first and leading private drama troupe in HCM City will enact old stories and characters from Vietnamese fairy tales set in traditional culture and lifestyles. 

The first production, Bo Lạc Nanh Trắng (The Village), is about bravery, self-respect, honesty and friendship. It carries messages encouraging young people to work together and fight negativity.  

The production uses elements from the book series of Vietnamese fairy tales, Kho Tang Truyen Cổ Tích Viet Nam (The Treasure of Vietnamese Fairy Tales), collected and rewritten by Nguyễn Đổng Chi, one of the country’s most popular cultural researchers. 

The collection includes five books and features 150 stories of friendship, love and dreams, highlighting the country's history, culture and lifestyle. 

The Village will be enacted by 20 actors, including young talents from art schools like the HCM City Theatre & Cinematography and the HCM City University of Culture. 

5B Small Theatre has spent more than VNĐ250 million (US$10,800) on the production.

“Vietnamese fairy tales include useful lessons. We hope young audiences can see the beautiful minds and brave characters of Vietnamese people after watching our shows,” said Meritorious actress Mỹ Uyen, director of the troupe. 

“We are working to make every show for children a combination of drama, cải lương (reformed opera), tuồng (classic drama), Vietnamese dance and music.

“We want to make an exciting theatre product for children when they enter the theatre to enjoy themselves and discover a new world,” she said.   

Uyen, who has 20 years of experience in the industry, said HCM City does not have enough shows for young audiences, particularly children. She and her actors have worked under a lot of pressure to produce shows that both kids and their parents can enjoy, she added.  

Bo Lạc Nanh Trắng will debut at 9am on May 21 at the 5B Small Theatre, 5B Võ Văn Tần Street in District 3. Shows for children will be presented every Saturday and Sunday morning, starting in June. — VNS