(Photo: VOV)

“Facing Infinity” tells the story of the post-opening period from 1986 to the 2000s, where individuality was liberated but at the same time loneliness began to spread in society. In the play, the protagonist experiences hesitation, helplessness, pain, and concern for the future, and finally chooses to face it and find a new value in existence.

Nguyen Quoc Hoang Anh, who directed the show, including the sound and music, said this work involved many materials – theatre, aerobics, street activities, and the movements of the characters. The music was inspired by traditional Vietnamese percussion, specifically Tuong (classical opera), as well as other spiritual art forms.

“I was especially interested in the play of sounds and rhythms in a traditional space that makes it more mysterious and appealing. It reminds us of communal memories and the way we communicate with nature and face life’s adversity,” said Hoang Anh.

The show “Facing Infinity” ambitiously expressed the artists’ experimental pairing of contemporary style with Tuong, the most academic of Vietnam’s traditional arts.

“When watching a contemporary dance performance, the audience must draw on connections to the past, present, and future. The audience also needs an understanding of the world and a good imagination. The best thing about art is that people can understand and feel a work of art in different ways,” said People's Artist Tran Ly Ly, Acting Director of the Department of Performing Arts of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

In combining contemporary dance and music with classical opera, the show incorporated experimental music from Vinahouse electronic music – a music genre with similarities to Chau Van (Vietnamese ritual singing). The sound of drums, zithers, monochord, and electronic music added a mysterious vibe.

Actor Charlie Winston and artist Dang Ba Tai, former Head of the Art Department of the Vietnam Tuong Theatre, said:

“The show ‘Facing infinity’ was enjoyable and intriguing. As a foreigner who has been learning about Vietnamese culture for a long time, I see that each Vietnamese art form has its own value. ‘Facing Infinity’ had an ambition to modernize traditional Vietnamese arts and make them more attractive to the public.”

“To prepare for the performance, the artists made a field trip to Phu Man village in Bac Ninh province to collaborate with local artists. It’s important to get young Vietnamese to understand and enjoy the traditional arts more. They have minds that are open to the world’s art forms. This will help them find ways to modernize traditional art forms.”