Vietnam’s ‘My Village’ bamboo circus wows Australia

Lang Toi (My Village) performers rehearse at the Vietnam Tuong Theater in 2017. Photo by Linh Pham.

The first performances have been praised by local media, with The Australian  saying "Nouveau Cirque du Vietnam weaves magic."

A total of 15 acrobats and four musicians portray life in a traditional Vietnamese village to the background of folk music. The West Australian newspaper described the production as "uplifting," remarking that the audience could not stop themselves from smiling and tapping their toes as they watched My Village.

The Australian Arts Review recognized the production as "a delightful acrobatic and aerial feast showcasing the gentle and playful Vietnamese culture."

"Nouveau Cirque du Vietnam" or New Circus of Vietnam troupe was invited to perform My Village at the Perth Festival after their sell out season in 2017 at the Regal Theatre. This year’s shows are being performed at the same theatre. Lune Production is the face behind the hit.

Founded in 1953, Perth Festival is an annual Australian cultural festival, the oldest in the Southern Hemisphere, and is usually held in February and March. It features a variety of art shows, including music, theater, cinema and  performance arts.

Nouveau Cirque du Vietnam is the brainchild of Nhat Ly Nguyen, Lan Nguyen and Tuan Le. The first two are siblings who were born in France and spent their childhood there and in Vietnam, subsequently studying at the National Circus School in Hanoi, the Guardian reported.