Traditional art form needs a new home

With a decrepit building as its only venue for performing in the city, the very existence of cai luong (reformed theatre) is under threat, a heartbreaking scenario for professionals and fans of this traditional performance art, who have been longing for a new and modern theatre.
As the cradle of cai luong, HCM City needs a theatre up to international standardise, says People’s Artist Doan Hoang Giang.
Several years ago, the HCM City People’s Committee announced plans to pull down the old Hung Dao theatre and replace it with a new and modern one. To date, no progress has been made, said the theatre’s management board and this is the only remaining performance space in the city that specialises in cai luong.
On a site of 1,632 sq.m on Tran Hung Dao street, in district 1, the theatre was founded in 1960, and has witnessed the rise and fall of cai luong ever since. There were once more than 10 other cai luong theatres in the city but they have all closed in recent years because of falling audiences.
Although Hung Dao underwent three renovations – in 1997, 1998 and 2001 – the facility is now in serious disrepair.
Its infrastructure is badly damaged, with a leaking roof and broken seats. Its old sound and lighting systems have problems because they are outdated and in need of repair. The drainage system has not been working effectively for many years, creating bad smells and drawing mosquitos and rats – not the best way to attract an audience.
Moreover, the stage seems to be at high risk of collapsing at any time.
“We felt very sorry for the actors and actresses when we saw them perform on this stage,” Giang said.
While other art forms have applied modern technologies to their productions, People’s Artist Pham Thi Thanh said, most of the technical support involved in cai luong performances, including controlling curtain and stage lights remain manually controlled.
The city should consider speeding up the commissioning of a renovation project to save the tradition of cai luong, said the theatre’s management board.