Vietnam Cheo Theatre: “Xúy Vân” returns to the stage
On June 28-29 this year, the classic chèo (Vietnamese traditional opera) play “Xúy Vân” will be performed again by the Vietnam Cheo Theatre after a 7-year absence from the stage.
(Credit: Organizers)
Belonging to the corpus of Vietnam’s seven classic chèo plays, the Vietnam Cheo Theatre’s production of Xúy Vân was restored, adapted, and edited from the ancient play Kim Nham by Professor – People’s Artist Trần Bảng and the Chèo Research Board.
The story centers on Xúy Vân, a quintessential đào pha (mixed female lead) whose fate is marked by marginalization. Within her family, she has no autonomy over her marriage, constrained by the patriarchal doctrines of feudal society. From a woman faithfully waiting for her husband while he is away studying, to enduring the emotional upheaval of her marriage to Kim Nham, and ultimately being deceived by the scoundrel Trần Phương, Xúy Vân emerges as a figure who dares to resist and denounce rigid customs and social prejudice. Her intense longing for love—unattainable in a society that confines her—drives her rebellion. In the end, rejected by the very world she challenges, she is pushed to seek death as her only escape.
Xúy Vân is played by Meritorious Artist Thuc Hien in the play of the same name at the Vietnam Cheo Theatre. (Credit: Organizers)
With its innovative script, evocative music, striking visual design, and meticulously developed characters – while still rooted in the traditional chèo aesthetic – Xúy Vân stands as a work of contemporary relevance. It transcends the familiar “village well and courtyard” setting to embody a profound humanistic vision.
By focusing on Xúy Vân herself, the play avoids condemning her. Instead, it illuminates her deep yearning for love, her courage in speaking out against social injustices, her critique of polygamy, and her call for equality and fidelity in relationships. For these reasons, Xúy Vân is regarded as the most defiantly expressive female character in the chèotradition – one who requires the performer to masterfully integrate singing, dancing, acting, and complex emotional expression.
Xúy Vân and Kim Nham (Credit: Organizers)
The production features Meritorious Artist Tuấn Tài (as Kim Nham), Meritorious Artist Bá Dũng (as Trần Phương), Artist Thục Hiền (as Xúy Vân), Artist Lê Thơm (as the Ghost-Fearing Sorceress), and other performers from the Vietnam Cheo Theatre.
Trained at Vietnam’s leading institutions for traditional performing arts, the cast brings to the stage a deep passion for the craft and a commitment to preserving national cultural identity. After the show, audiences will also have the opportunity to meet and take photos with the artists.
This performance marks the first media collaboration between the Vietnam Cheo Theatre and the “Xin Chào Việt Nam” (Hello Vietnam) Project – an initiative led by young creatives devoted to telling stories about Vietnamese culture, cuisine, people, and tourism. This partnership represents an important step in the theatre’s efforts to innovate, engage new audiences, and promote the preservation of Vietnam’s artistic heritage.
The play will be performed on June 28–29 at the Kim Mã Theater, 71 Kim Mã Street. Tickets can be purchased via the Facebook page of the Kim Mã Theater – Vietnam Cheo Theatre.
Information source: https://www.facebook.com/nhahatcheovietnam/posts/pfbid02iBa4rNDvAJTHB6KJrEf4GFZs4jSWsiN51mhYaVZbJY9NBfqrjkMNidmyuuy3uHeal