Twenty priva"te and State-run art troupes from across the country are taking part in the 2012 National Professional Drama Festival, which opened in Hue city on July 14.
The festival will present 26 plays including "Lu quet" (Flash Flood) performed by the Army Drama Theatre, "Nuoc mat nguoi dien" (Madman's Tears) by the Hong Van Stage Company, "Huyet lenh" (Blood Order) by the Hanoi Drama Theatre and "Chia tay hoang hon" (Saying Goodbye to the Sunset) by the Vietnam Drama Theatre.
The plays in the festival reflect people"s lives in contemporary society.
The festival aims to honour drama troupes and artists who have made contributions to the stage and offers an opportunity for them to learn new techniques to help make the stage more attractive for audiences.
In addition to gold and silver medals for the best plays and actors, the organising board will also give awards to outstanding writers, directors, musicians, choreographers, set painters and lighting designers.
The event is being held jointly by Department of Performing Arts under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Vietnam Association of Stage Artists and the Thua Thien-Hue Province Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and will run until July 28.