On April 19, at the USSH-VNUHCM, the Drama Club of the Faculty of Journalism and Communication staged “The Thief and the King”, with all 200 tickets sold out before curtain time.
The stage was designed in a traditional style, recreating a royal court setting – Photo: Journalism Drama Club
A layered theatrical adaptation of folklor
Restaged from its 2023 debut, “The Thief and the King” draws inspiration from Vietnamese folk tales such as Duc Nguoi, Quan Gio, and Da Trang. The story follows a fateful encounter between Quan Phong, a righteous thief, and a king in disguise as a poor student investigating life among his people. Both are unexpectedly drawn into a theft case, uncovering secrets that impact personal identities and the fate of the kingdom.
Conflict-driven scenes sustain the dramatic pace throughout the performance – Photo: Journalism Drama Club
Over nearly three hours, the play builds continuous dramatic tension through layered conflicts. The evolving relationship between the two protagonists reveals inner struggles, placing them between personal ambition and moral responsibility. Lighting and sound were carefully designed for each segment, enhancing scene transitions, spatial shifts, and emotional climaxes.
Four months behind a “fairy-tale” production
According to Nguyen Duc Huy, Head of Production and founder of the club, the play is the result of more than four months of continuous rehearsal by student performers passionate about theater. Preparation included acting training, script development, stage design, and coordination across sound, lighting, and backstage teams.
Meticulous backstage preparation contributed to the overall production quality – Photo: Journalism Drama Club
He noted that beyond bringing folklore to the stage, the project offered meaningful experiences for participants: “Coming together to create this production has been a special journey – one that feels even more extraordinary than the fairy tales themselves."
At the premiere, Prof. Dr. Ngo Thi Phuong Lan, President of the University, expressed her pride in the students’ academic spirit and artistic passion, while recognizing their serious investment in the production. She highlighted the team’s responsibility, creativity, and coordination across departments, adding: “I’m impressed by your professionalism – you performed like trained actors.”
Vo Hoang My, a third-year Linguistics student attending her second performance by the club, praised the production: “The coordination between actors and backstage teams was seamless. The performance delivered meaningful messages and left a lasting impression.”
Audience members engage enthusiastically with the performance – Photo: Journalism Drama Club
The performance also marked the 9th anniversary of the Journalism and Communication Drama Club (2017–2026). Over nearly a decade, the club has maintained two performance seasons per year and produced 13 full-length plays, becoming a familiar creative platform for theater-loving students. Previous productions include La Hat Nhu Mua, Buon Het Dem Nay, Cam Vang Qua Song, and Nam Khoc Mot Minh: Ly Ruou Than.
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Following the sold-out premiere, the club announced three additional shows of “The Thief and the King”: May 9 and 10 at the Van Khoa Hall (Sai Gon Campus), and May 31 at the Humanities Hall (Linh Xuan Campus), to meet strong student demand. |
QUYNH NHU – DUC DUONG
(Translated by Hoang Oanh Nguyen)
