Preserving the art of reformed opera in contemporary life

A scene from the Cai Luong play "The Remaining Dieu" by the Cai Luong Troupe (Lam Son Art Theater) won the Gold Medal at the National Cai Luong Theater Festival.

In 1968, Thanh Hoa Cai Luong Troupe was established (later merged into Lam Son Art Theater). Over the years, generations of artists of the Cai Luong Troupe have strived to overcome difficulties and worked hard to create quality performances for the audience. Many artists of the troupe have received noble titles such as People's Artist and Meritorious Artist.

Faced with competition from current art forms, most young audiences are not interested in traditional dramas in general and reformed art in particular. To preserve and promote reformed art, Lam Son Art Theater has directed the Reformed Art Troupe to innovate its methods of operation to reach audiences. Create many excerpts and plays, not only recreating stories, events, and historical figures but also exploiting contemporary social topics, with high educational value, suitable for the taste and enjoyment requirements of the audience. Maintain regular touring art programs to serve the people in the province.

In addition, the Cai Luong Troupe has actively participated in national Cai Luong theater festivals and won many high awards. From 2021 to present, the troupe has had 3 plays winning medals at theater festivals, including 2 gold medals. At the 2024 National Cai Luong Theater Festival, the Cai Luong Troupe won a Gold Medal with the play "The Remaining Dieu". In June 2025, at the National Theater Festival on the image of the People's Public Security soldier, the troupe continued to win a Gold Medal with the play "Thunder at Lach Hoi Gate". This is an honor and motivation for the artists of the Cai Luong Troupe to continue to preserve and promote the art of Cai Luong.

Currently, Lam Son Art Theater is striving to maintain the orientation of preserving, maintaining and promoting the art of Cai Luong by training the next generation of actors, actively practicing, improving the quality of art, meeting the information needs and aesthetic tastes of the audience. Young artist Pham Thi Ngoc said: "Although life is still difficult, with my love for the profession, I have been and am making efforts to preserve and promote the art of Cai Luong. In the future, I will continue to study to improve my expertise and professionalism to work with the group of artists of the troupe to produce quality plays."

In addition to the achievements, the preservation and promotion of the art of reformed opera in our province still faces many difficulties and challenges. Since 2016, Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism has not trained traditional opera actors, making it difficult to find young, talented artists to supplement the theater. Along with that, the pressure of life has caused many young artists to temporarily put aside their dreams and work in other fields, making it difficult to stage contemporary plays and attract young audiences to the art of reformed opera.

People's Artist Vu Trong Hai, Deputy Director of Lam Son Art Theater, said: To preserve and promote the art of Cai Luong, it is necessary to have the coordination of the cultural sector and the education sector to implement programs and projects to bring traditional stage art into schools, so that students can understand Cai Luong art in particular and traditional drama in general. Thereby, helping them understand the beauty, the humanity of traditional art and take practical actions to preserve traditional art forms. The authorities also need to organize more Cai Luong stage festivals and performances to discover and nurture the next generation of young artists. Pay attention to training human resources and increasing income for Cai Luong artists. Innovate management work with specific mechanisms to improve professionalism in performing arts, to bring Cai Luong art closer to the public.

Article and photos: Xuan Cuong

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/gin-giu-nghe-thuat-cai-luong-nbsp-trong-cuoc-song-duong-dai-260147.htm