HA NOI — The Viet Nam Play Theatre will be staging the French classic Andromaque, directed by Jean Mari Lejude, in Ha Noi on December 14 and 15, before touring France and a number of other European countries.

Andromaque is a tragedy in five acts created by French playwright Jean Racine and written in Alexandrine verse (a style of writing that was adopted in the 16th century and which uses lines of 12 syllables).

It was translated into Vietnamese in the 1970s by Ha Noi-based Duong Tuong.

The play was first performed on November 17, 1667 for Louis XIV at the Louvre in the private chambers of Queen Marie Therese, by the royal company of actors that were known as "les Grands Comediens."

The first public performance took place two days later at the Hotel de Bourgogne in Paris.

Embroidery collection sets Viet Nam language record

THUA THIEN-HUE — Artist Le Van Kinh was recognised by the Viet Nam Records Book Centre as holding the record for embroidering a poem in the largest number of languages.

He embroidered the poem Cao Tat Thi Chung, written by Zen master Man Giac in the 11th century under the Ly Dynasty, in 14 languages including English, French, Russian, Italian, Danish, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, Lao, and Thai.

Giac wrote the poem to express his ideology of life, the cycle of births and rebirths and the never-ending series of cause and effect.

Kinh, 83, said he hoped to display his collection both domestically and internationally. He planned to embroider the poem in six other languages to round out his collection at 20 languages.

Musician creates traditional instruments from coconut

BEN TRE — A collection of traditional instruments made of coconuts has been created by musician Le Dan and Ben Tre Province's leading instrument maker and player Vo Van Ba.

The pair created a dan co (two-string fiddle), dan gao (two-string fiddle with coconut body), dan bau (monochord), dan tranh (16-chord zither) and drum. These instruments are typically used in don ca tai tu (music of the talented) performances and in different types of traditional music.

They have been at work making the instruments since May after receiving support from the province. The instruments are expected to be played during the opening ceremony of the Ben Tre Coconut Festival in 2012.

Hue exhibition showcases old Phuoc Tich pottery

THUA THIEN-HUE — Scores of old pottery items made in Phuoc Tich, a 600-year-old village in Thua Thien Hue Province, are on exhibition in Hue City.

While most exhibits are relics found around the province, some are new items made based on traditional patterns.

Artists Vo Xuan Huy and Le Ba Cang, who are organising the exhibition, have called for converting old pottery items into decorative pieces, saying this would bring Phuoc Tich Pottery back to public notice.

They also hope to use some old items as can models for potters in the village to make both souvenirs and products for daily use.

The provincial authorities set up a pottery workshop in the village two years ago to preserve the art.

Phuoc Tich Village is a popular tourism attraction thanks to its houses and traditions that have been maintained for centuries.

The exhibition will remain open until November 22. — VNS