A scene from the musical Sans Famille by the Youth Theatre. (Photo: Youth Theatre)

“Loving Summer”, an annual art program by the Youth (Tuoi Tre) Theatre returns this summer 2025. Children are being treated to excellent, humanistic performances, including “Sans Famille,” “The Story Of A Seagull And The Cat Who Taught Her To Fly,” “The King Without a Throne,” “Elsa’s Dream,” “Zorba - The Detective Cat,” and “The Goblin’s Child.”

“Sans Famille,” in particular, is getting a grand premiere on June 1, the International Children’s Day. The musical is directed by Meritorious Artist Le Anh Tuyet, with script by Bui Hong Que. It was based on a famous novel of the same name by French novelist Hector Malot. 

Meritorious Artist Tuyet said: “Sans Famille” is a literary masterpiece and a dream project of mine for many years. It carries profound messages and after much deliberation, I decided to pick just one slice of the story to adapt in my production. We have learned so many valuable lessons from Remi’s journey. There are sentences in the book like “To do anything, you have to focus” or “if you don't work, you don't eat”, which seem ordinary at first, but carry lessons that even us adults can reflect on.”

Striking stage designs transport the audience to the French countryside and a Paris of centuries past. The production will also feature renewed scores with lyrics in Vietnamese, performed by talented young artists who can simultaneously handle the singing and dancing.

Le Anh Tuyet said: "The songs and choreography we have chosen will feel just as familiar as the story. Since “Sans Famille” is a world-renowned masterpiece, we include world-renowned classics like those by Mozart and other instrumental pieces, but in more accessible arrangements for a modern audience." 

In Ho Chi Minh City, a number of theatres have also announced special productions for children. Many are scheduled for early June.

One of them is “Once Upon A Time,” a summer program for children by IDECAF Theatre in District 1. The annual show enters its 25th edition this year, with a premier of “Descendants of the Sun God,” a production about family. It will feature big names like Meritorious Artist Bạch Long, My Duyen, and Dai Nghia, as well as actresses Thanh Thuy and Hong Anh. 

A scene from "“Descendants of the Sun God” by IDECAF Theatre (Photo: IDECAF Theatre)

The play was directed by Dinh Toan. “This story was adapted from Korean folktales by Quang Thao. South Koreans believe they are children of the Sun God, just like we believe we are the children of Lac Long Quan and Au Co. The characters, a bear, a tiger, a fox, and a goblin (dokkaebi), are all endearing. According to Korean folklore, the dokkaebi is neither a witch nor a sorcerer, but a cursed object,” Toan said. 

In addition to IDECAF, the Ho Chi Minh City Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera (HBSO) will stage “Cinderella”, based on a fairytale of the same name by Charles Perrault, with music by the great Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev. 

Other programs include “The Meow Meow Kingdom” and “The Big-Nosed Princess” by Truong Hung Minh Drama Theatre, and “Nezha Conquers the Dragon King” by the Quoc Thao Drama Theatre.

These high-quality and novel productions not only bring children joy but also meaningful lessons.