Meritorious Artist Tú Sương says continuing to work, maintaining family traditions and passing on experience remain her priorities. In a new interview, she reflects on injuries, financial pressures and limited performance opportunities in cải lương.
Health affects how she can contribute
She began performing young and is known for productions including Lương Sơn Bá–Chúc Anh Đài, Dấu ấn giao thời and Phụng Nghi Đình. She received Meritorious Artist status in 2015. Demanding movement in classical roles has accompanied injuries involving her knee, ligaments and cartilage, including surgery, according to her account.
While affection for the profession motivates her, she also imagines other ways to help if she can no longer perform the same roles. Teaching, preparing hair and accessories and supporting backstage work all remain meaningful contributions. Her recollection is personal experience, not advice to work before recovering from injury.
More performances and future practitioners
Tú Sương says some carefully rehearsed productions run for only a week before a long wait for revival. Artists must also promote shows, attract audiences and sometimes supply their own costumes and props. Irregular earnings lead many to take other work and reinvest savings in theatre.
She is pleased that her children are following family traditions but wants them to have health, direction and opportunities to practise. Younger audiences and institutional support, she believes, help sustain transmission.
Colleagues have encouraged her to prepare an application for People's Artist recognition. That is encouragement toward consideration, not confirmation that the title has been awarded. Her immediate focus remains contributing within her circumstances.