Eleanor Clapham – A passion for Tuong and Cheo

HANOI December 12, 2006 – Hanoians will see their favourite theatrical traditions in a whole new light next week when a foreign singer performs traditional Vietnamese opera at the Hanoi Opera House.

Next Friday night, Eleanor Clapham, a 23-year-old Australian, will perform Vietnamese traditional opera – Tuong and Cheo. She will also give a cross-cultural performance of Australian folk songs played on traditional Vietnamese instruments.

Speaking at a press conference today in Hanoi, Clapham said: “After one year of dedicated training in Hanoi, my accomplishments have fired up a desire to perform not just in Vietnam but also throughout the world.

“I want to promote these interesting and special arts of Vietnam to the world. And I hope that my performance will inject a new passion for Tuong and Cheo among Vietnamese youth.”

Clapham is the first foreigner to study Tuong and Cheo and professionally perform them on stage in Vietnam. She was first introduced to these theatrical arts two years ago by Vietnamese performers visiting Wollongong University in Australia. Having spent a long time looking for a style of performance that would help her stand out from her fellow students, she realised that Tuong and Cheo were just what she had been searching for, and she decided to come to Vietnam to learn more.

Lorien Hamilton, Operations Director of TRG International – the performance’s main sponsor – said: “Operating in Vietnam for more than 13 years, we have always wanted to make more contribution to the country and we were eyeing the Vietnamese theatrical arts when Eleanor came to our attention. We immediately decided to help her, firstly by building her website, and now by sponsoring her show.

“Eleanor’s performance is the embodiment of a true merging of Eastern and Western cultures. We think it’s essential for international companies operating in Vietnam to support such intercultural activities.”

Mr Hamilton also revealed that his team is building a website about Tuong, Cheo and Cai Luong to promote these theatrical arts to both foreigners and young overseas Vietnamese.

Tickets for the performance are available at:
Opera House 1: Trang Tien
The Press Club: 59A Ly Thai To
Vine Group Restaurant: 1A Xuan Dieu, Tay Ho

For more information, please visit www.eleanorclapham.com