Hát tuồng (pronounced as /vi/, Chữ Nôm: 咭從) or hát bội (pronounced as /vi/, Chữ Nôm: 咭佩)[1] is a form of Vietnamese theatre. Hát tuồng is often referred to as classical "Vietnamese opera" influenced by Chinese opera.[2] [3]
Tuồng is distinct from the older hát chèo genre of Vietnamese theatre which combines dance, song and poetry, and the more modern cải lương folk musical.
The origin of tuồng is still unclear. It is believed that it was imported from China around the 13th century when Vietnam was warring against the Mongol Yuan Dynasty. A famous actor named Lý Nguyên Cát (李元吉) was imprisoned by the Vietnamese. The imperial court asked him to spread his knowledge of Chinese theatre to the children of the elite, thus explaining how tuồng had first had its beginnings in Vietnam in the royal court.[4] Later on, it was adapted to travelling troupes who entertained commoners and peasants.
However, the first one to lay the foundation for the art of tuồng in Vietnam is Dao Duy Tu.[5] Under the Nguyen dynasty which he served for, tuồng reached its highest point and was favored by Nguyen kings. Many great playwrights including Đào Tấn were also in this time.
Along with Hát chèo, tuồng was one of the highly popular art forms for commoners until 20th century. With the arrival of Cai Luong and modern theatrics, tuong gradually lost its position.
Stories in the opera tend to be ostensibly historical and frequently focus on the rules of social decorum, and can include legends from either the history of China or Vietnam.
Tuồng employs the use of stock characters who are recognizable from their make-up and costumes, which are typically very elaborate and extravagant.
Usually, a character's personalities can be revealed through three features: the color of the face, the eyebrows, and the beard.