Local director heads regional fest

Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnamese theatre director Le Quy Duong has been named artistic director of the Asian Theatre Festival 2009, to kick off in China this June.

Duong was invited by Professor William Huizhu Sun, vice president of the
Shanghai Theatre Academy and director of the Asia Pacific bureau of the
UNESCO Chair International Theatre Institute.

The Asian Theatre Festival 2009 will take place from June 7-12 at the Shanghai
Theatre Academy and will draw 20 experimental art troupes from theatres and
art schools in the Asia-Pacific region.

Duong will visit eight countries in April to preview the troupes' performances and
will review the other 12 by video.

"The festival will be an experiment to show integration and the connection between
traditional and modern creativity," said Duong.

Duong will also direct an experimental performance Nguoi Nam 2222 (People of
the Year 2222) by Vietnamese writer Le Duy Hanh.

The performance tells the story of a young people who are scientists and takes
place on the earth, the moon and the sun.

The performance will use body art and high tech stage equipment to convey the
surreal aspects of the story, said the director.

"I will combine the rule of traditional Vietnamese art with modernity and the
detailed featuring of installation art," Duong said.

"People of the Year 2222" will be performed by both Vietnamese and foreign actors.
Japanese dancer Yumi Umare will play the wife and the husband will be played by
Malaysian choreographer Tony Yap. International artists from Australia ,
Singapore , China , New Zealand and India will also contribute to the
performance.

After the festival in Shanghai , "People of the Year 2222" will tour Australia ,
Europe, Asia and Vietnam to celebrate the 1,000 th anniversary of Thang
Long-Hanoi.-Enditem