VietNamNet Bridge – Tickets for all 21 shows of the Vietnamese circus in France and Belgium in June and July were sold out. The troupe has signed contracts to perform the “My Village” circus play in the UK, Spain, Holland, Hong Kong, Singapore and many other countries in 2010-2011, with 100 shows per year.

The local media in France and Belgium have published many articles about the “My Village” show. Many French have expressed regret for not purchasing tickets for any of the Vietnamese artists’ 11 shows at the Quai Branly Museum.

In Belgium, the Vietnamese troupe was also very successful with 10 shows at a theatre for circuses, which saw 1000 full seats. Many entertainment investors in Europe came to see these shows and sign contracts with Vietnamese artists.

Vu Ngoan Hop, Director of the Vietnam Circus Federation, said that the troupe has signed contracts to perform “My Village” until 2011. He said the troupe will try to improve the show every week and every month.

“My Village” can be seen as a variety show, in which circus is the key part. All items in the show are arranged to highlight the picture of Vietnam’s countryside. Bamboo trees, therefore, are chosen as the language of the show.

Artists dance with bamboo pipes. They walk on and perform acrobatics on bamboo pipes, do prestidigitation with bamboo-made baskets. The stage is decorated with bamboo screens and the major musical instrument – dan moi — is also made of bamboo.

In that picture of Vietnamese rural life, the lives of Vietnamese farmers appears through circus items that reflect folk games like shuttle-cock kicking, water bailing-out, swinging and others.

It is interesting that “My Village” was designed by overseas Vietnamese artists: director Tuan Anh (Vietnamese-German), musician Nhat Ly (Vietnamese-French), and circus instructor Nguyen Lan (Vietnamese-French).

The idea for “My Village” programme came out in 2004, when a French-Vietnamese cultural exchange project was compiled. In September 2005, “My Village” was introduced to Vietnamese audiences.

The show was praised by the Scene de la Terre (France) and this organisation invited the Vietnam Circus Federation to bring the show to Europe and other countries. The tour is scheduled to last three years.

This is first time a Vietnamese circus programme has been ordered by a foreign show organiser. That is “My Village” of the Vietnam Circus Federation.

Before going to France and Belgium, the work was performed at the Hanoi Opera-House in May.

VietNamNet/Van Hoa