Hoai Linh returns to the theater stage with "A Love" by Nguyen Ngoc Tu

Hoài Linh tái ngộ sân khấu kịch với — A new stage will be introduced to Ho Chi Minh City audiences in early August 2025.

This coming August, Ho Chi Minh City stage will welcome a new stage called: "New Stage" - a socialized model gathering a large number of artists, including Meritorious Artist Hoai Linh, working with a passion and aspiration to restore the gradually shrinking theater space.

In particular, the opening play titled "A Love Affair", adapted from a literary work by writer Nguyen Ngoc Tu, not only marked the beginning of this performance, but also marked a rare return to the stage of Meritorious Artist Hoai Linh.

Meritorious Artist Hoai Linh is eager to return to the spotlight

"I chose to return because this is a script with depth, full of humanity and especially inspired by Nguyen Ngoc Tu's literature - a writing style I always respect. I believe that the audience will see themselves in those small but moving human lives" - Meritorious Artist Hoai Linh shared with a reporter from Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper.

Choosing writer Nguyen Ngoc Tu to open the show is not only an artistic choice, but also a declaration that today's theater needs to return to the depth of the soul, with familiar, everyday stories but imbued with humanity. From "Endless Field" to "Half a Life of Wonder" (from the short story "Empty Chieu"), "Rau Ram O Lai" (from the story "Oh, Where Are the Cabbages Going?"), "Mo Trang Bong Nuoc" (from the story "Love Missed"), "Mut Chi Mat Ca Tha" from the short story of the same name..., Nguyen Ngoc Tu's works always contain gentle sadness, quiet but haunting psychological layers - a golden material to be adapted into a play.

And those works have contributed to the success of many stages, directors, and drama artists in Ho Chi Minh City.

Nguyen Ngoc Tu's works "have a soul" ready to be performed on stage

"Nguyen Ngoc Tu always brings readers profound thoughts. The stage is a place to reflect on lives to find sympathy from the audience. Therefore, the writer's literature has a soul ready to step onto the stage" - young director Minh Nhat shared.
The decision to open with "A Love Affair" shows that New Stage does not choose the old path of vulgar comedy or easy drama. They came out of the film studio, but did not bring with them the illusory lights of the market. They gathered the strength of famous artists and young faces - not only to light the lights, but to rekindle faith.

A socialized stage with common aspirations

"New Stage" is a remarkable model in the context of the Ho Chi Minh City drama scene gradually disappearing. Not dependent on the State budget, not focusing on commercial factors, this stage operates based on the resonance between the passion of artists and the support of Khang Media, taking advantage of the film studio infrastructure to save costs, investing properly in artistic content.

The appearance of Meritorious Artist Hoai Linh, along with a series of artists such as: Cat Phuong, Hua Minh Dat, Quach Ngoc Tuyen, Hoang Phi, Mac Van Khoa, Hong Trang, Huynh Tien Khoa, Thuy Trang... not only attracts the public but also demonstrates the openness of the stage - a place where diverse generations, colors and styles converge.

Not Just a "Love Affair"

Right after “A Love Affair”, the stage will continue with “The Alley with Many Tropes”, “The Phantom of the Le Hoa Theatre”,… showing a rich orientation in genres and reaching audiences of many classes. However, the biggest highlight is still the return to the quality of drama – no gimmicks, no superficiality, but focusing on building situations, characters and realistic psychological conflicts.

If successful, New Stage will become a model worth learning: not waiting for incentives, not sitting around complaining about the lack of audiences, but proactively creating value. Choosing Nguyen Ngoc Tu to start may be a bold choice - but it is a touch that touches the emotions of today's audience: those who are tired of the noise of the market, and are quietly looking for what is simple - deep - sincere.

"A Love Affair" is the story of a character, the love affair of an artist with the stage. And New Stage can be the place where that love is revived."

In addition to Meritorious Artist Hoai Linh, New Stage has the participation of artists: Cat Phuong, Hoang Phi, Quach Ngoc Tuyen, Hua Minh Dat, Thuy Trang, Cong Danh, Mac Van Khoa, Huynh Tien Khoa, Hong Trang, Steven Nguyen, Huynh Bao Ngoc, Phuong Linh, Tat Dieu Hang, Be Tu, Quynh Nhu, Cong Huy, Kha Son, Bi Max and a number of other young actors.

Official performance schedule: from August 2, 2025, at Khang Media Studio (5B Pham Ngu Lao, Ward 3, Go Vap District, Ho Chi Minh City).

Source: https://nld.com.vn/hoai-linh-tai-ngo-san-khau-kich-voi-mot-moi-tinh-cua-nguyen-ngoc-tu-196250714070130469.htm