Tú Sương and Võ Minh Lâm wrestle with history in Dời đô

In Dời đô, Võ Minh Lâm plays a ruler forced to defend a decision that could define his place in history, while Tú Sương portrays a queen caught between her family and her husband. The two artists are appearing in the roles for the first time.

The roughly 50-minute excerpt was staged on September 6 at Trần Hữu Trang Theatre during a program commemorating the third anniversary of playwright Lê Duy Hạnh’s death. It focuses on Lý Công Uẩn, founder of the Lý dynasty, as he considers moving the capital from Hoa Lư to Đại La.

The decision faces resistance from court officials and even members of his family. The work presents the ruler enduring sleepless nights, dealing with foreign powers and opposition inside the court, and feeling deeply isolated because he lacks understanding from those around him. Dời đô portrays the move not as an impulsive act, but as a decision grounded in the country’s circumstances and in the belief that prosperity and public welfare justified the risk.

Lập Giáo empress faces a different conflict. A princess of the previous Lê dynasty, she stands between her father and Lê family on one side and her husband, now leader of the Lý dynasty, on the other. Those personal tensions give both performers room to explore the inner lives of their characters.

After staging the excerpt in memory of Lê Duy Hạnh, director Lê Nguyên Đạt is considering producing the full play next year for the national cải lương festival. Võ Minh Lâm said he was drawn to the script because Hạnh’s works combine philosophical depth with contemporary relevance, using historical stories to convey enduring messages. “Every era has its reforms, and the role of the person leading the country is extremely important. If successful, that leader will be remembered. If unsuccessful, that leader will become a criminal in history,” he said.

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Every era has its reforms, and the role of the person leading the country is extremely important. If successful, that leader will be remembered. If unsuccessful, that leader will become a criminal in history.