Art must be for the audience, to serve the audience
In the 70s and 80s, artists performed under the policy of “art for art’s sake”, that is, art stands independently from social and political life, rejecting the artist’s mission in the process of struggle. society. Circus are built according to a standard, sometimes repetitive, and force the audience to follow.
According to People’s Artist Tong Toan Thang: “This thought must be changed if the circus art is to develop. Art now must be for humanity, must be for people, must meet the needs and tastes of the audience”.
Circus is a large international art form that can be combined with many other genres. In order for a complete circus to have all the elements: attractiveness, suspense, aesthetics and cannot be ignored entertainment. The entertainment in the work is not a trick, not a market sale, let alone the top techniques of the circus artist.
In the 4.0 era, stage directors and artists need to learn about trends, take advantage of the stage, from sound, image to costumes to build a perfect script.
“This is a difficult problem for circus performers because it is necessary to balance expertise and entertainment. But it is necessary to boldly change to adapt to the market, how to make the circus not only serve children but all All subjects can enjoy,” Thang said.
There are circus plays where actors have to practice for 2-3 years just to perform on stage for 5-7 minutes. Pictured is the play “Hanoi Dreams” in 2017, directed by People’s Artist Tong Toan Thang.
In 2018, artist Tong Toan Thang pioneered in portraying a soldier of the Vietnam People’s Army in the form of a circus. Performances such as “Live forever in Dien Bien”; “Memories of Truong Son”; “10 girls at Dong Loc fork”, “Immortal circle”, “Legendary of mother”, “Round footprints in the sand”… made a big splash when they debuted.
The circus shows feature live music, with singers, choirs and circus performers working together on stage. Before the performance, the program had an exchange with historical witnesses about the heroic years of the nation. On average, each play, artist Tong Toan Thang takes from 3 weeks to 3 months to perfect the script.
Thach Sanh’s costumes usually only wear loincloths, no clothes, exposing the skin to increase contact with the python, so the artist can easily control the “co-star”.
In the performances, not only senior officials but also many families with young children, including young people, also come to watch. Major General Huynh Dac Luong, turning 100 years old in 2019, a living witness invited to the play “Living forever in Dien Bien” told Mr. Thang: “I did not expect so many generations to come to see it, finally someone has come. bring us to the light”.
“The responsibility of artists like me is to bring them to light and tell people stories about the heroic history of their ancestors. I want the world to see, this is not the Vietnamese people doing the circus. , but this type of circus is Vietnam’s own brand”, People’s Artist Tong Toan Thang shared.
Now, when he has become a “boss” (Deputy Director of Vietnam Circus Federation), Thang still accepts to act in small roles, to coordinate the stage and support his actors. In particular, he still continuously plays the role of Thach Sanh, performing python circus.
Thang shared, the audience also asked me to perform, and wanted to see me standing on stage, meaning my efforts were still recognized.
The life of a circus artist is like a firefly, burning up and then dying out.
Artist Tong Toan Thang was born in 1967, in Hanoi. Currently, Deputy Director of Vietnam Circus Federation.
In 1978, Tong Toan Thang entered the Vietnam Circus School. In 1983, he graduated from school and worked at the Vietnam Circus Federation. He is the first Vietnamese circus artist to perform with pythons, through the image of “Thach Sanh fighting an ogre”, associated with the childhood of the 8X and 9X generations.
In 1992, Tong Toan Thang won the “Favorite Audience” and “Most Special Performance” awards at the International Circus Festival in Wuhan (China). His name from here is more known to the world.
In 2019, he was one of the first two circus artists in Vietnam to be awarded the title of People’s Artist by the Prime Minister.
He has toured in many countries around the world such as: Thailand, China, Sweden, 16 Pacific island countries, 97 cities; 41 states in the US with nearly 1,000 shows.
Performed by: Thanh Thuy
Photo: Character provided
02/02/2023