Since then, Thu Que has gone a very long journey to become Colonel, People's Artist Thu Que of the Army Drama Theater.
If we make a comparison, the Army Drama Theater with its characteristic of performing for the armed forces will not have to bear ticket sales pressure, revenue pressure like many public theaters. Do you see that as a piece of luck?
- The Army Drama Theater together with the Army Song and Dance Theater, the Army Cheo Theater are currently under the management of the General Department of Politics - Vietnam People's Army.
The Army's stage will of course be different from public theaters, because our main task is to serve officers and soldiers of units throughout the army.
The play of the Army Drama Theater both achieves artistic quality and carries the theme of standard ideological education, in accordance with the leadership guidelines of the Party and State.
Our Army Theater performs to serve units, not for the purpose of revenue.
Do you often go to see plays at other public theaters such as the Youth Theater, the Vietnam Drama Theater...?
- As someone in the theater industry, I regularly watch new plays by the Youth Theater, Hanoi Drama Theater, Vietnam Drama Theater... Most recently, the Youth Theater has the play "Nam Dong Military Zone" adapted from a novel of the same name. I am very impressed. The play is elaborately staged, and especially the acting of the stage artists at the theaters is very realistic and emotional.
For a long time, the stage has been considered to have lost its position. Audiences are being drawn into many entertainment media. Audiences now like to watch things that are fast, concise, and eye-catching. The stage is the opposite, slow and deep. How do you see this contrast?
- For professionals like me, I have widespread observation of the performing market of both Southern and Northern stages.
In the South, socialized theater, rich and attractive topics, satisfying audience tastes. They can stage plays very quickly. The script raises many hot issues, is of social concern, catches "trends", has high entertainment value... Thanks to that, there is a very good audience.
With public theaters in Hanoi, there are their own characteristics. Northern stages used to be difficult, but I think theaters are overcoming and getting better and better.
According to my observation, the Youth Theater, the Vietnam Drama Theater, and the Hanoi Drama Theater are currently "lit up" regularly. The repertoire is diverse, rich, and attractive to many audiences.
I went to see it and was very happy, when the stage has been and is having new breezes, bringing a new breath with many impressive plays.
The majority of audiences now often choose to stay at home to watch movies, surf their phones, watch videos on Tiktok... rather than leaving home and spending money to buy tickets to see plays. In this competition, attracting audiences to the theater seems to be increasingly difficult?
- I understand the trends of the times and social networks. Especially, after the COVID-19 pandemic, the theater closed, social network platforms are developing too fast, with too much attraction.
Coming to the stage, the audience will have to overcome many "challenges", they will have to leave home, will have to spend money to buy tickets, will spend time (2 - 3 hours) sitting and watching...
So how will theater makers face it?
- That is a big question to ask leaders at all levels.
I am just an artist. But from my perspective, I am quite optimistic. I believe that there will still be audiences who love the stage. Each theater, each field has its own audience.
The general trend is that surely the majority of audiences like to watch movies, like to surf Tiktok, but I think that among that majority, there are still people who truly love the stage.
Stage has its own characteristics. A place where artists directly interact with the audience, cry and laugh with the audience. Direct acting requires very high bravery from artists.
I have many friends who do not work in the theater field, but they love spoken drama theater very much and still often buy tickets to go to see it live.
There will still be audiences who like to sit under the stage lights, to be immersed in the profound values of the play. Doesn't everyone lie down to browse their phones and watch short flashy videos?
If artists still maintain passion for the profession, if the play is quality, has good topics, if the play is invested in and promoted well... I believe the stage still has audiences.
It seems you are talking about the biggest weaknesses of the theater today, which are the lack of good scripts, and the way of staging has not been much innovated...?
- When I go to the theater, I usually focus on the performance of the artist, the script of the play more. Of course, applying science and technology, investing in stage art design is very important and needs to be emphasized.
But I believe that the soul of theatrical plays is the performance of the artist, is the director's handling, is the story – the message of the play.
In addition, physical drama or experimental drama usually do not invest too much in context or fine art design.
Sometimes, an artist only acts with a chair - enough to touch the emotions and hearts of the audience. The talent of an artist is the biggest "key" in a play. The artist's brilliance can make the audience forget everything around them.
I participated in the Stage Talent contest in 2004, I played 4 roles, with only one very simple stage. I talked to a tombstone... That year, I won the second prize in that competition.
Minimalist stage is also widely used in international experimental stages.
Of course, there will also be plays that need grand investment, eye-catching, unique staging, creating a "overwhelming" stage effect.
In recent years, theaters have had very new ways of staging plays, such as "Nam Dong Military Region", "Wharf of Time"... I think that the stage has been and is having many changes.
Someone once said that beautiful (and famous) women, when they go through their most glorious period, are often disappointed. What about you?
- I am enlightened by Buddhism, understand the laws of life, so I have nothing to be disappointed about.
I have natural gray hair, and choose a peaceful life. Because I believe that each age has its own beauty.
People's Artist Thu Que was once known in the fields of theater, cinema and television. After a long journey, do you think you have enough, beauty, happiness and fame?
- I think I am lucky to be like today. I thank Heaven and Buddha's ancestors, my big family, my small family.
However, luck is just one factor. No less important is training and learning. Not everyone understands the hardships of Army artists, due to their own characteristics.
At this point, looking back, I see that I have made unremitting efforts. Efforts to refine thinking, knowledge and expertise.
And the core thing is that people need to live with a heart and virtue, always live towards goodness, know how to love and share with the community.
With all of the above, we will achieve certain success. And I am happy with what I have.
