More than 300 objects from Huynh Minh Hiep’s cai luong collection were presented at Tran Huu Trang Theatre in Ho Chi Minh City, according to a VnExpress report published on 5 September. Preserved over more than 30 years, the handwritten scripts, recordings, advertisements and publications offer a material view of the theatrical tradition.
Records and a troupe’s anniversary publication
The report highlights a Kim Van Kieu record described as more than a century old. Alongside recorded sound, printed material shows how theatre companies promoted productions and addressed their audiences.
A 1965 anniversary publication from the Thanh Minh Thanh Nga troupe includes images of Thanh Nga and her mother, troupe manager Nam Tho. Other pages feature the handwriting of artist and playwright Nam Chau. One publication thus brings together the performer, the organiser and a creator of the dramatic works.
The smaller traces of going to the theatre
Posters, black-and-white photographs, cai luong comics and admission tickets add different layers to the collection. They preserve character designs, stories retold on paper and the everyday experience of entering a theatre.
VnExpress also recorded young visitors exploring the exhibition, alongside workshops and discussions about traditional music. The material connects objects with performance rather than presenting the heritage only as a list of celebrated names.
For readers interested in learning more, the history behind an individual script, recording or ticket offers a useful starting point. Visiting arrangements and further activities should be checked against announcements from the theatre.