Art & Entertainment News 13/1 YAN launches new channel for women and families Multimedia corporation YAN Group launched Channel B, a new channel for women and families, last weekend after two months of trial operation on the cable system of HTVC. Viewers of Channel B can get useful information such as beauty tips, delicious cooking recipes, and health care information for themselves and family. The channel also features film programs, everlasting love songs and famous pieces of literature, poetry and movies in the past, as well as talk shows, and humorous sitcoms for women and families with the theme of daily life stories. Especially, the program called What I haven’t said discusses the relationship between children and parents, where they can have direct dialogue to understand each other better and look directly into contradictions in family life. Vietnam Cultural Week shines in Rome Vietnam Cultural Week in Rome, Italy kicked off on January 12 with an exhibition on the distinguished traditional values of the Southeast Asian country. On display are prominent Vietnamese artefacts, including the Gong in the Central Highlands region, handmade brocade items, pottery, traditional clothes, and musical instruments. Photos and films featuring famous tourism destinations, including Ha Long Bay, Hoi An ancient town, and My Son Sanctuary, are also showcased. The exhibition offers live traditional music performances and the option to taste classic Vietnamese flavours and cuisine. Apart from the exhibition, the cultural week also covers a wide range of workshops and activities aimed at boosting cooperation between Vietnam and Italy in tourism, trade, and cinema. Intending to promote the Vietnamese image abroad, the event will run until 26, ahead of the country’s larger participation in the Milan world fair EXPO 2015. Drama highlights cai luong art The cai luong (reformed theatre) play Nua Doi Huong Phan (The Flavour), a famous production by scriptwriters Hai Trieu and Hoa Phuong, will be restaged in a new version 58 years after its premiere. The 90-minute musical work is a love story between Tung, a rich man, and Huong, a rural young woman who worked as a prostitute to support her family. Tung's father disapproves of Huong's background and the relationship, so Tung marries another girl. On his wedding day, he realises his future wife is Huong's younger sister. Since its debut by the Thanh Minh-Thanh Nga Troupe in then-Sai Gon (now HCM City) in 1957, the play has been staged and filmed in many versions. This performance is part of a drama project called Tai Danh Dat Viet (Vietnamese Talents), launched by the Gia Bao Entertainment Company. It has attracted veteran actors Thanh Sang, Ut Bach Lan. Minh Vuong, Le Thuy and Vietnamese-American artist Phuong Lien, all of whom are seen as some of the top talents of cai luong. Comedian Bao Quoc and young artists Hong Loan, Tu Suong and Ha Linh are also featured. "Our project Tai Danh Dat Viet aims to preserve cai luong by restaging famous plays, which have been performed by different generations of artists. We want to encourage young people learn more about their traditional theatre," said actor Gia Bao, owner of Gia Bao Entertainment. Bao has worked with partners to hire staff and invest in the project, hiring fashion designers Le Long Dung, Moc Thanh and An Kha. "After staging Nua Doi Huong Phan, we will release two plays Doi Co Luu (Miss Luu's Life) and To Anh Nguyet (Miss To Anh Nguyet), which were staged in the 1930s by cai luong pioneers Nam Chau, Phung Ha and Ut Tra On, all of whom were awarded the title of People's Artist from the Government." Both plays, written by Tran Huu Trang, highlight Vietnamese women, their challenges and sufferings under feudal society. They are recognised as canonical cai luong and have been staged many times at home and abroad. Playwright Trang was the first to feature women as leading characters in cai luong. Though he has passed away, his art is still alive among Vietnamese audiences, particularly southerners. The show Nua Doi Huong Phan will be staged on January 30 and February 1 at Ben Thanh Theatre, 6 Mac Dinh Chi Street, District 1.  VNS/SGT/VNA