The first International Puppetry Festival drew to a close on Saturday in Ha Noi. The performance of ‘Hon Que’ (Country’s Spirit) by the Central Puppet Theatre of Viet Nam won the only gold for plays.
The performances of ‘Chuyen to he’ (Toy Figurine’ Story) by the Central Puppetry Theatre, ‘Huyen thoai Tien-Rong’ (Fairy-Dragon Legend) by the Thang Long-Ha Noi Puppetry Theatre and ‘Apsara’ by Thailand’s Hobbyhut Chiang Mai Puppetry were each given a silver medal. Eight of the 10 gold medals for individuals went to foreign artists.
The week-long international marionette festival featured 17 troupes from Viet Nam and 10 foreign countries; Egypt, Belgium, Brazil, Sweden, Israel, China, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore and the Philippines. The troupes brought to the festival 20 performances encompassing various genres of puppetry.
The festival was organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s Performing Art Department and the Vietnam Stage Artists’ Association.
The puppetry extravaganza was staged at the Central Puppetry Theatre, the Military Theatre, the Ha Noi Children’s Palace, and the Hong Ha Theatre in Ha Noi.
The second festival is expected to be held in October 2010 in Viet Nam for the occasion of the 1,000th birthday of Thang Long-Ha Noi.
