Performing arts step out of the “box stage”:

From traditional “box stage” performances with only a few hundred seats, performing arts are now moving to more open spaces where thousands, even tens of thousands of audiences can experience the art together.

This trend not only changes the way art is enjoyed, but also poses new requirements for creative thinking, investment and development of the cultural industry.

A scene from the opera "Sweet Star Fruit Branch" staged and performed at the Cultural and Artistic Center 22 Hang Buom (Hoan Kiem ward).

Step out of the “box stage”

Recently, art lovers have witnessed the “explosion” of large-scale performances, beyond the scope of traditional theaters. From stadiums, sports areas, exhibition centers, parks, to pedestrian streets, all can become “living stages” for art.

The concerts “Fatherland in the Heart”, “Proud to be a Vietnamese”, “Anh trai say hi”, “Em xinh say hi” were just successfully held at My Dinh National Stadium ( Hanoi ), gathering tens of thousands of spectators. The “Show of Den” at My Dinh Athletics Palace or the concert “Museum of Regret” at Yen So Park (Hanoi) show that the open performance model has really taken shape, bringing connection and harmony between artists and the public. Large-scale music festivals such as V-Concert, V-Fest, or “8Wonder: Moments of Wonder” at the outdoor space of the National Exhibition Center (Dong Anh, Hanoi) have proven that large, open stage spaces and modern equipment enhance the audience experience, helping artists convey more intense energy and emotions.

Not only music , traditional theater is also gradually moving out of the "box" performance model to reach new spaces. The Vietnam National Traditional Theater "joined hands" with the Vietnam Circus Federation to stage the play "Tran Nhan Tong" to bring the art of reformed opera to the multi-dimensional round stage. Previously, the Vietnam Reformed Theater (now part of the Vietnam National Traditional Theater) also staged and performed the play "Sweet Starfruit Branch" at the 22 Hang Buom Cultural and Art Center. Instead of performing in the theater, the Thang Long Puppet Theater also boldly brought the play "The Emperor of the Reed Flag" to the Thang Long Imperial Citadel Heritage Site...

In particular, young artists are also proactively approaching contemporary audiences in new spaces. The project “Ha Hoi 2025 - Mong Ky Man Tuong” with the activity “Ha Hoi Tour - River of Tuong” aims to combine outdoor performances and live theater, in order to create new vitality for this traditional art form…

The synergy of innovation and investment

The public today desires and demands to experience art in new spaces, with more effects. In response to this trend, in many recent seminars, talks, and career exchanges, artists, managers, and cultural experts believe that expanding performance spaces is an inevitable path, but to go far, a long-term strategy and substantial investment are needed.

Meritorious Artist Nguyen Si Tien, Director of the Youth Theatre, believes that modern theater needs to step out of the physical limits of the theater to truly “live” with the audience. “The Youth Theatre serves many genres, from music and dance, drama, pantomime… and is currently pioneering in experimenting with musical forms towards international standards. We always ask the question: How can Vietnamese theater approach the world theater, so that the audience not only comes to watch, but also experiences, interacts and shares?”, said the Director of the Youth Theatre.

According to Meritorious Artist Nguyen Si Tien, the success of major art programs and large-scale concerts with tens of thousands of audiences in recent times, many of which have sold tickets effectively, has “awakened” those involved in performing arts. “If we keep the old performance model, it will be difficult for us to attract young, modern audiences. Stepping out of the “box stage” is not only an artistic solution, but also a way to expand the audience, create more revenue, and contribute to the development of the cultural industry,” the Director of the Youth Theater mentioned.

Dr. Tran Thi Minh Thu, Vietnam Institute of Culture, Arts, Sports and Tourism, believes that investing in outdoor stages, live stages, or interactive stages with digital technology is a necessary step to keep up with global trends. “The world already has forms of stage combining light, sound and virtual reality (AR, VR), while in Vietnam, we are just at the beginning. To go further, the State needs to have policies to encourage investment, socialize production and train a young creative team that is knowledgeable about technology,” Dr. Tran Thi Minh Thu commented.

Participating in the Arts Council of the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports, musician Truong Ngoc Ninh, former Chairman of the Hanoi Music Association, said that concerts with tens of thousands of audiences such as “Anh trai vuon ngan cong gai”, “Em xinh say hi” or music festivals V-Concert, 8Wonder… bring in large revenues, affirming that performing arts is a key cultural industry. The important thing is to have a mechanism for artists, producers and management units to benefit together, reinvest and develop long-term.

For performing arts to be able to step into larger spaces, instead of just in the theater, experts agree that it must start with creative content and young human resources. Organizing competitions to find stage ideas suitable for modern tastes; applying lighting, sound, and digital image technology to create new experiences, needs to be invested strategically.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/nghe-thuat-bieu-dien-buoc-ra-ngoai-san-khau-hop-mo-khong-gian-tang-trai-nghiem-719330.html