Hue Festival 2010 to have underwater stage

A dancing play entitled “The Breath of Water” will be performed for the first time on a 1500 square meter underwater stage on Tinh Tam Lake in Hue at the upcoming Hue Festival 2010.
The play tells a romantic love story about the separation and reunion of boys and girls in the dynastic era. Young talents like Linh Nga, Quynh Lien and Xuan Chien will play the leading roles.
Tinh Tam Lake is among 20 landscapes of the Nguyen dynasty in the former capital city of Hue.
Le Minh Tuan, who is in charge of technique, observed: “We have pumped and discharged water in and out the lake to maintain its pureness. We have also taken some measures to keep the stage surface rough enough to ensure safety for the dancers.”
Minh Hanh, the costume designer, will use water-proof material to make their clothes. The actors will be dry in the first part of the play, when they perform on boats, but, in the second half, the dancers will perform on the underwater stage.
The stage is still on paper, but the organizing board places high hopes on this special play. “We like the idea and the script of this play very much,” noted Ngo Hoa, Vice Chair of Thua Thien – Hue province and chief organizer of the Hue Festival.
The 75-minute “The Breath of Water” play will use traditional music arts that are recognized by UNESCO as a world intangible cultural heritage – nha nhac (Hue royal court music), ca tru (ceremonial music) and quan ho (Bac Ninh love duet).
100 professional and 250 amateur actors will join this play. The work will be performed on the evenings of June 6, 9 and 10. Ticket revenues will be donated to two singing classes for disabled children in Hue.
The Hue Festival 2010 will take place from June 5-13, drawing over 30 art troupes from 25 countries.