The Hát Chèo
is a satirical musical theatre, a kind of popular opera with an entirely oral
tradition.
Cheo is a specific and special art of Vietnam's
cultural heritage, a vivid manifestation of the Vietnamese soul and a national
cultural identity. Cheo has been crystalized from the heroic and grueling life
of Vietnamese ethic communities in their founding and defense of the country.
The characters are those of daily life, presented by
the Masters, the principal styles, different types of declamation and chant. A
few of the characters (the monk, drunk, clown, etc.) show this to be a highly
sophisticated art form.
This artistic show is performed weekly on Fridays
and Saturdays from 20h to 21 h at 15 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, Hanoi.