Life's not a stage for country kids

Stage magic: A scene from the play Hoang Tu Gau Va Hat Dau Than (The Bear Prince and Magical Beans) performed by the Youth Theatre artists. While children in big cities can enjoy several stage productions, those living in rural areas are facing a shortage of suitable entertainment options.- Photo tuoitre.vn

Ho Hai Phong, 12, from the central province of Nghe An's Quynh Doi Village in Quynh Luu District, said he had never seen a stage performance in his village.

He said artists from big cities like Ha Noi and HCM City rarely visited the countryside.

Phong said his friends dreamed of watching a good play or a drama in his village. "We all envy my friend Nguyen Van Toan, whose father took him to Ha Noi this summer to enjoy many stage performances, including a circus," said Phong.

Children in the capital can enjoy such dramas as Nhung Dieu Than Ky (The Miracles) by the Ha Noi Cheo (Traditional Opera) Theatre. It is about a type of Vietnamese Cinderella. Actor Minh Vuong wrote the script and performed as a benevolent spirit.

The Viet Nam Circus Federation, the Tuoi Tre (Youth) Theatre, and well-known comedians Xuan Bac and Tu Long also designed many programmes for children in the capital.

Meanwhile, children in HCM City have also had a chance to enjoy many interesting plays, such as One upon a Time No 27 and Thach Sanh Kills the Python among many others.

Artist Hoai Oanh, who specialises in organising events for children, said it was difficult to play in rural areas because they often lacked theatres or other places to stage a quality performance.

The director of the Viet Nam Circus Federation, artist Vu Ngoan Hop, agreed with Oanh, saying his federation could not satisfy many country children despite increasing demands.

"Free performances should be provided for children in rural and remote areas, particularly on Children's Day on June 1 or during summer vacations," he said.

The director of the Youth Theatre, Truong Nhuan, said in many countries, governments often provided funds for theatres to provide children's programmes. "These countries understood that investment in children meant investment in the future," he said.