Keeping the flame of traditional Cheo theatre alive

Bac Ninh is one of the traditional centres of Cheo, a form of Vietnamese folk theatre rooted in the Northern Red River Delta.

A performance at the first Bac Ninh Cheo Clubs Festival in 2025.

Although the art form has gone through periods of decline and revival, generations of performers and enthusiasts have continued to preserve its songs, stories and distinctive melodies.

In Ngan Cau residential area in Yen Phong Ward, Cheo enthusiasts meet every week to practise singing, dancing and acting. The local Cheo Club has about 30 members aged from 40 to more than 70.

The members voluntarily contribute their time and money to maintain rehearsals and performances, with experienced performers teaching younger or less experienced members.

“The drums of Cheo in my hometown have never fallen silent despite all the changes over time,” said Man Duc Tam, head of the Ngan Cau Cheo Club.

The club has won prizes at festivals and performances organised by the city. Cheo is also being passed down within families, including the family of artisan Nguyen Thi My and musician Nguyen Van Thao, whose three children and a grandchild have learned to sing cheo and regularly perform locally.

Meritorious Artisan Nguyen Van Them guides members of the Yen Dung Ward Cheo Club in rehearsing a new work.

Hoang Mai village in Nenh Ward is another traditional Cheo centre, home to several recognised artisans, including People's Artisan Do Thi Khoa and Meritorious Artisans Than Thi Nen, Vu Van Hoang and Than Manh Tham.

Under their guidance, members of the Hoang Mai Cheo Club regularly rehearse and revive well-known works. The club also organises training sessions for people interested in the art, helping pass the tradition to younger generations.

Bringing new stories to a traditional stage

Bac Ninh now has about 30 ancient Cheo villages with more than 500 regular participants. More than 80 Cheo clubs have been established, bringing together over 1,000 members.

With support from the Bac Ninh Cheo Theatre, the clubs receive professional guidance and training to improve their performances and meet local audiences' demand for traditional arts.

Members of the Ngan Cau Cheo Club in Yen Phong Ward rehearse.

Dang Tien Manh, Deputy Director of the theatre, said the clubs were increasingly focused on training, learning from one another and promoting traditional art through local cultural activities.

Cheo was recognised as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2025. Bac Ninh is also working with other northern provinces and cities to prepare a dossier seeking UNESCO recognition of Cheo as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity.

While preserving traditional plays, the clubs are also creating new works that bring Cheo closer to contemporary audiences.

Their productions address changes in everyday life, showcase Bac Ninh's landscapes and people, and promote pride in the homeland and community efforts to build more prosperous rural areas.

In Yen Dung Ward, Nguyen Van Them has written more than 50 songs and Cheo sketches for club members to rehearse and perform for local audiences.

His works cover subjects ranging from local culture and historical sites to new rural development and political and social events.

In recent years, Cheo clubs across Bac Ninh have continued to develop new performances based on village life and the changes taking place in local communities.

Their productions are presented at competitions, festivals and cultural events, giving traditional melodies new opportunities to reach audiences.

From the preservation of ancient melodies and classic plays to new works depicting modern life, Cheo in Bac Ninh is evolving while maintaining its cultural roots.

The traditional art continues to resonate across the Kinh Bac region, carried forward by performers and enthusiasts who are finding new ways to connect an old theatrical tradition with the stories and aspirations of today's communities.

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