The musical is brilliant but the audience is small, but the reading is attractive.

Musicals are the most attractive form of theater in our country today, but they still have few audiences. However, the reading showcase of the musical PUPU by artists from the Youth Theater on the evening of June 21 attracted the audience.

For the first time, Hanoi audiences got to see a play performed - Photo: Tuoi Tre Theater

Reading showcase is a new form of performance in Vietnam but has become popular for musicals in the West and many Asian countries, especially Korea.

In Vietnam, for the first time, Tuoi Tre Theater introduced this performance form to the audience through a reading of the musical PUPU .

The reading performance is the result of phase 1 of the PUPU children's musical project that Tuoi Tre Theater and SangsangMaru Theater (Korea) co-produced in 2025 - 2026, with the musical My Dream .

For the first time, audiences in Hanoi got to see a reading showcase.

PUPU is a children's musical, carrying a profound message about love of nature, tolerance and harmonious coexistence between humans and nature.

In a coastal village, where siblings Jun and Sara live peacefully with their family. But the peaceful atmosphere is broken when storms and rising seas engulf the entire village.

The cause seemed to be the curse of a mysterious "monster". But then, the truth gradually revealed: the monster was not a bad guy, but a lonely creature, once discriminated and misunderstood.

The villagers realized that it was human discrimination and uncontrolled development that caused nature to rebel.

Although they only performed readings, the artists also combined some physical movements and especially facial expressions - Photo: Tuoi Tre Theater

With the form of reading, the actors just stand in one place to sing, act out lines, and do a little physical movement, but the good music , profound story content, plus the novelty of the genre, make many audiences attracted to the reading of the musical PUPU .

Hong Trang - a regular theatergoer - said she was surprised and excited. It is different from traditional theater, radio theater, or the stand-up comedy genre that has recently entered Vietnam.

Meritorious Artist Si Tien - director of the Youth Theater - said this is a very flexible form of stage performance, not dependent on stage setting or props, and can be performed in small spaces while still ensuring artistry.

With this form, the actors have absolutely no props, stage space or supporting choreography, the audience will focus completely on the actors' voices and emotions, so they can absorb the stage work in a profound way.

Excerpt from the performance of the musical PUPU by the Youth Theater - Video : THUY TINH

Attractive but not yet a genre of independent theater

But is it possible to develop this reading showcase format as a standalone genre, to reach a separate audience that loves minimalism but emotion?

Sharing with Tuoi Tre Online, stage director Bui Nhu Lai said that in countries with developed theater, such as Korea, reading showcases are often used in musicals.

It is a stage in the production of a musical, primarily intended to introduce to the audience the musical pieces that will be sung in the musical being developed.

Reading showcases are also used for drama in Korea. As reported by Tuoi Tre Online , last June, the Seoul Drama Center (Korea) organized a reading of two short stories by writer Nguyen Huy Thiep, Khong co vua and Sang song.

But reading showcases are not yet considered a separate genre of theater.

Mr. Si Tien said that currently, Tuoi Tre Theater has not thought about separating it into an independent genre. However, with the potential it shows, there will certainly be many ideas for development in the future.

The PUPU reading is an important milestone towards a complete, full stage version, bringing a deeper experience to the audience.

PUPU is produced according to the model of modern family musical, with professional support from Korean experts.

This is an opportunity for young Vietnamese artists to learn and grow in a professional musical environment.

Previously, Tuoi Tre Theater has cooperated with SangsangMaru Theater to produce a number of outstanding musicals such as The Goblin's Child and Zorba - Detective Cat.

These musicals conquer audiences with their harmonious combination of Korean artistic standards and Vietnamese cultural identity.

BIRD OF PARADISE

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/nhac-kich-ruc-ro-con-it-khan-gia-ma-dien-doc-kich-lai-hap-dan-20250621221602633.htm