The first Festival of Theater Schools - Asian Pacific Region will be held in Ho Chi Minh City for the first time from September 5-10.

120 delegates and students from 15 drama theaters and stage schools are expected to participate in the event, including the Australian National Theater Drama School; China’s Shanghai Drama Institute; Indonesian Institute of the Arts Yogyakarta; Korea National University of Arts;; LASALLE College of the Arts in Singapore; Philippines’ Ateneo Drama School and IPAG Stage Center of the Philippines.

At the festival, to be held at HCMC Dance School, 155 Bis Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, district 3, the Vietnamese team will feature artists, lecturers and students from HCMC art schools.

“Dien kich mot minh” (Acting by oneself) by Vietnamese writer Le Duy Hanh will be staged in two versions: “cai luong” (traditional southern music and stage performances) and experimental drama at the festival opening. The festival conclusion will feature the combined performance themed “The modern world – identity – integration – happiness and peace” by students from the participating schools.

According to director Le Quy Duong, head of the organizing board, the festival will showcase a host of performances, exchanges in performing skills, workshops on stage training and practice as well as international cooperation.

Duong stressed that this will be a precious opportunity for Asian stage directors and artists to exchange experience and learn from one another.

Tobias Biancone, Director General of the International Theater Institute (ITI) of the UNESCO, will also be present at the festival opening and workshops to promote the activities from his institute.

Biancone stressed that the premises for outstanding stage creations can only be a comprehensive stage education including theory, practice and audience observation.

He also raised the question of how to boost audiences’ interest in theater and avoid producing plays which appeal to an exclusive, elite circle of audiences, along with how to enable actors to retain their own identities but integrate with the world art scene at the same time.

The event is jointly organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, My Phat Co.’s International Exchange and Training Center of Stage Performance, HCMC Stage Association, HCMC Dance  School and 5B Theater.