The puppet show introduced the unique features of the Vietnamese stage. Photo: Minh Giang/NDO

With the connection and companionship of director Le Quy Duong, member of the Executive Committee of the International Theatre Institute (ITI), the performance titled "Dream Dragon" of the Vietnam Puppet Theater was voted by ITI to perform at the opening ceremony of the 36th ITI Congress on the evening of February 21.

The 36th ITI World Congress will be held in Fujairah (UAE) from February 20 to 25, the first worldwide on-site ITI gathering since 2017.

The performance Mo Rong (Dragon Dream) will be led by director Le Quy Duong and performed by artists from the Vietnam Puppetry Theatre.

Chu Teu (Uncle Teu), a humourous farmer, who is a vivid symbol of Vietnamese folklore. Photo: Minh Giang/NDO

Dragon Dream will be the only performance representing the Asia-Pacific region to open the show alongside performances of theatrical representatives from Europe, Africa, Latin America, Oceania, and the Middle East.

Director Le Quy Duong states that the performance is a combination of the traditional drum in Cheo, which is a traditional Vietnamese opera art form, and unique foot puppetry.

The story of beautiful and charming Vietnamese village girls, born among peaceful villages, and diligently working in the wet paddy fields of Vietnam is depicted through the unique performance details of puppetry and body.

The performance tells of “Chu Teu”, a humourous farmer, who is a vivid symbol of Vietnamese folklore. When war suddenly strikes, people come together to show solidarity and support each other to overcome all difficulties, with “Chu Teu” being saved by a pair of dragons during the conflict.

"Dream Dragon" represents the gentleness, hospitality and peace-loving of Vietnamese people. Photo: Minh Giang/NDO

The strong vitality and cultural inner strength of thousands of years of civilization have helped "Chu Teu" revive and resound every beat of the rowing drum at the time of drilling, picking, squealing, and rejoicing, for life to sprout. A pair of baby dragons was born again as a symbol of love, inner strength and intense vitality of the culture that will never die.

The performance evolves from specifics to a symbolic generalization, sending a profound message of peace to humanity today that war may still be going on somewhere on earth, maybe can destroy everything, but humanity's life, love and desire for peace and happiness will forever remain.

Culture is the strength of the nation to overcome brutal wars. Photo: Minh Giang/NDO

On the basis of ancient cheo drum rhythms, cheo drummer Tran Dinh Quang created new melodies for cheo drums, making his cheo drum sound a direct companion and leading the whole story.

In addition, Artist Tran Thanh Hoa creatively designed visual effects for the show, combined with music and sound effects by talented Australian musician Darin Verhagen.

Once again, the Vietnam Puppetry Theater affirms its creative energy and high level of professionalism when it is able to dynamically expand the expressive language of puppet theater and traditional Cheo drum music to combine different types of modern art forms and staging methods, thereby creating new works that are both rich in the cultural identity of the nation, but also very modern and brings message in the space of integration and development of the international performing arts.

The national cultural values are cherished, preserved and passed down through generations. Photo: Minh Giang

The delegation of Vietnamese artists officially went to Dubai to attend the congress from the evening of February 18, led by People's Artist Trinh Thuy Mui, President of the Vietnam Association of Theater Artists.

The opening ceremony is expected to bring together nearly 1,000 artists and representatives from nearly 100 countries and territories and will be broadcast live on the National Television of the UAE.

The 36th ITI World Congress themed “Reunite, for the Performing Arts and Humanism”, from February 20-25, will be the first worldwide on-site ITI gathering since 2017.

At this congress, participants will be inspired by debate, artistry, and sharing best practices, reigniting their love of the theatre arts and the people associated with them.

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