Vıetnam Feature Package Tuong Theatre

epa02177283 Actress Tran Thi Khim does her hair before the performance of 'Extract An Old Man Carries His Wife On The Back To A Festival' at the Vietnam National Tuong Theatre in Hanoi, Vietnam, 27 May 2010. This is one of the folk spectaculars, which has been performed for generations. It tells the story of a prince who relies on his father's power to get the young wife of the old man. One actor performs two characters, the old manthe young wife, with the help of a puppet. It is believed that Tuong theatre was imported from China around the 13th century when Vietnam was warring against the Mongol Yuan Dynasty. Later, it developed from being entertainment for the royal court to being performed for commonerspeasants by traveling troupes. The stories in Tuong tend to be historicaloften focus on the rules of social decorum. Legends from either the history if China or Vietnam are re-enacted. Tuong employs the use of stock characters who are recognizable from their make upcostumes, which are typically very elaborateextravagant. The Vietnam National Tuong Theatre was established in 1959 with only 19 artistsofficials. Nowadays nearly 200 officialsartists work at the theatre with productions also presented in the country's provinces.  EPA/LUONG THAI LINH