From puppetry in the Red River Delta, this art form has become a cultural symbol of national identity, contributing to telling the story of Vietnam in traditional but vibrant language. In this challenging digital age of traditional art, in Vietnam, there is rarely a theater that can be "red light" 365 days a year, except for the Thang Long puppetry Theater in Hanoi.
During more than 55 years of operation, Thang Long puppetry Theater has become a typical address to help the water puppet heritage continue to be revived, performed and spread, with a performance schedule of 365 days a year, affirming the identity and reputation of the the theater on the Vietnamese art map.
In that flow, Meritorious Artist Chu Luong - former Deputy Director in charge of the Theater, is one of the faces with outstanding contributions, bringing Vietnamese water puppetry to the world, raising the art level by creating new performances and organizing exhibitions, while preserving and promoting traditional cultural values.
He is the one who has elevated water puppetry to new heights through performing in more than 30 countries, creating unique works such as "Flying Up from the Water" and disseminating art through installation exhibitions.
He won the Gold Award at the 3rd International puppet Festival and set a Guinness Vietnam record with the achievement: Most puppet creator, in addition to teaching, writing books...
Not only outstanding in art, Thang Long puppetry Theater also impresses through its performance space. The stage is a large water tank evoking the image of the roof of the Vietnamese village communal house, the light creates a magical feeling; above is the live performance of the national orchestra; behind the bamboo tray are artists quietly immersed in the water to control puppets - a dedicated image that the audience rarely sees. The spacious lounge with long lines of customers every day shows the enduring vitality of water puppets in contemporary life.
Today, Thang Long puppetry Theater is not only a cultural meeting place in the heart of Hanoi, but also an "art ambassador" bringing the image of Vietnam to more than 40 countries. The journey of preserving and renewing water puppets continues, with the silent but persistent contributions of many generations of artists, who are keeping a Vietnamese heritage alive in the modern era.
