Bangladeshi artists will perform the Bengali version of the play Legend of Youth, recently staged by Hanoi-based director Le Quy Duong in collaboration with the Vietnamese Women’s Museum and premiered in Hanoi on Vietnamese Women’s Day, October 20.
It’s the story of 10 female martyrs who sacrificed their lives at Dong Loc Junction in the central province of Ha Tinh in 1968 to protect the transportation route to the southern front during the national resistance war against the US Army.
| The work is dedicated to ten young men who gave their lives to victory at the Dong Loc crossing. Photo: Ngo Minh/The Hanoi Times |
The play has received high praise from experts and audiences, particularly the younger generation, helping them gain a deeper understanding of the past contributions and sacrifices made by Vietnamese youth for the sake of national reunification.
It is also a play that explores innovative staging techniques, aligning with the development trend of world theater, where the audience can interact and be immersed in the reenactment of the war on stage.
Inspired by the courage and dedication of young Vietnamese volunteers who sacrificed their lives for the country’s independence, freedom, and unification during the war, the Department of Theatre and Performance Studies at the University of Dhaka has decided to stage the play in Bengali.
According to Professor Israfeel Shaheen, Head of the Department of Theatre and Performance Studies at the University of Dhaka, he was deeply moved when he read the script of Legend of Youth, which was translated into English by The Hanoi Times reporter Do Minh Thu.
| The play is rehearsed by Bangladeshi artists. Photo courtesy of director Le Quy Duong |
Israfeel Shaheen stated that he and his colleagues, as well as the actors, were overwhelmed with emotion upon reading Le Quy Duong’s screenplay about the young generation of Vietnam during the war and how the Vietnamese people triumphed in reunifying the country. This inspired him to translate it into Bengali.
He aims to convey the message of the play “Live a Worthy Life” and spread the aspiration for peace, independence, freedom, and human values among the young generation of Bangladesh.
According to Israfeel Shaheen, in the context of a volatile world marred by conflicts and wars, the story of the 10 young women who perished at Dong Loc Junction allows the present generation to appreciate peace and human values, and advocates for an end to global wars and conflicts.
“More importantly, this legend is based on a true story about real people from Vietnam. They volunteered to fight for their homeland and for peace in their country, helping the Bangladeshi public to gain insight into the people and life in Vietnam and understand how they overcame a formidable force like the Americans,” he said.
Israfeel Shaheen mentioned that the play Legend of Youth serves as a lesson for Bangladeshi playwrights, directors, and artists on character creation, plot development, handling relevant themes, and adopting new staging styles.
The play is set to premiere early next year in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh.
Hanoi audiences have the opportunity to enjoy the play on Saturday and Sunday evenings at the Vietnamese Women’s Museum, located at 36 Ly Thuong Kiet Street.
