The author of "The Ma Nguu Case" has more creative material after a field trip with artists in Ho Chi Minh City

Tác giả — Authors and artists of the Ho Chi Minh City Theater Association took souvenir photos at Ben Ninh Kieu Park - next to the statue of President Ho Chi Minh

The creative journey of the artists and authors of the Ho Chi Minh City Theater Association in Dong Thap - Can Tho has ended after 5 days of visiting many red addresses and famous landmarks.

Material created from sages

The delegation's journey to the Memorial Site of Mr. Nguyen Sinh Sac, the Memorial Site of Valedictorian Bui Huu Nghia and Moc Quan Nguyen Trong Quyen - great names who left a deep spiritual and aesthetic legacy for the land of Tay Do.

In the solemn atmosphere, the group took a moment of silence, read the documents, looked at the documents, listened to the stories passed down through generations about the heroic personality, the courageous spirit, and the faith in the people. At that moment, many authors wrote down more in their notebooks: the dialogue about "the spirit of a righteous man", about "the simple yet classic beauty" of Southern paintings, about "integrity" in the way of being an official, the word "love" in the way of being a human being. Those streams of thought will quietly flow into the character structure, become moral conflicts, become tragic knots and dramatic actions on stage.

Creative materials from Southern culture

Before leaving Dong Thap for Can Tho, the delegation of authors and artists from the Ho Chi Minh City Theater Association visited the Phuong Nam Cultural Tourism Area in Lap Vo. This tourist area opened in 2017 and its appeal has not diminished. On an area of 17 hectares, the campus is planned into 5 main categories: Nam Phuong Linh Tu, Dang Clan Museum, Nam Bo Museum, Dang Clan Nam Phuong Linh Tu and the corridor symbolizing the 5 continents. This place has been honored with two Vietnamese records.

The Southern Land Museum here displays many rare documents about the excavation of the Lap Vo - Sa Dec canal by the French in the early 20th century, along with valuable artifacts about the 54 ethnic groups of Vietnam, ancient coins from the time of the founding of the country and the largest drum in Vietnam.

Many other valuable artifacts salvaged from merchant ships that sank in the southern sea from the 15th to 18th centuries are also on display, along with a collection of farming and fishing tools from our ancestors when they first opened up the land. This is an inspiring stop, connecting the past with the present, suggesting many historical and cultural details to incorporate into stage compositions.

Creative materials from Cai Rang floating market

When the mist still covered the river, the group arrived at the wharf, following the fishing boat to Cai Rang floating market. On the vast water, the sound of engines, the cries of vendors, the laughter of conversation mixed with the aroma of pineapple, durian, and vermicelli soup steaming on the boat. Each "beo" tree hung with fruit as a rustic yet unique sign - a lively folk semiotic aesthetic.

For stage artists, it is a field class in rhythm. In the author's eyes, Cai Rang appears as the largest "improvisational stage" in the open sky - where the Southern character is exposed: liberal, straightforward, hospitable and fair.

The intersection between tradition and modernity, between the pace of merchant life and the pace of urbanization, raises an artistic question: how can the stage tell today's stories while preserving the soul of the river region? Many sketches have sprouted, in which playwright Dang Minh said he had the idea to compose the script "Lotus Soul", after this trip he will adapt it from spoken drama to reformed opera.

Playwright Duc Hien, the father of the work "The Ancestor's Altar of a Actress" said he created the series "The Wharf Chronicles" to be able to write a series of short scripts about the fate of merchants through three generations - from boats, rafts to workers - outlining the transition of occupations and family values.

Young author Duy Linh said he is conceiving a contemporary folk script, combining the breath of traditional music and Can Tho folk songs with minimalist arrangements, creating a cultural space for his students to perform in the near future.

Creative materials make the value of the trip

The field trip is not just about "going to see" but also about "going to listen" - listening to the sound of water, boats, people, and the echoes of our ancestors. For stage creation, it is a way to enrich life experiences, verify details, and expand imagination; for performing artists, it is an opportunity to refine their speaking rhythm, acting rhythm, and Southern intonation. More importantly, the journey shows the vitality of the local theater network where Tay Do Theater (now Can Tho Cultural and Arts Center) is a hub rich in community audience experiences. The connection between Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho is not only about river geography, but also about the flow of professions: exchanging scripts, sharing staging, touring during the flood season, and opening classes to teach young actors.

Returning to Ho Chi Minh City, in the luggage of 20 artists and authors is a notebook that is getting thicker, "fueled" by the alluvial soil of memories. Can Tho has given the group a mirror to realize that each stage author must return with many creative materials, to tell stories full of love for the land and people of the West.

Some pictures of the group of authors and artists from Ho Chi Minh City during the creative field trip: