Water puppet theatre sets Asian record

The Thang Long Water Puppetry Theatre in downtown Ha Noi now holds the record for being the only theatre in Asia offering nonstop live performances for 365 days, according to the Asian Book of Records.

A scene from a water puppet show at Thang Long Water Puppetry Theatre, which holds the record for being the only theatre in Asia offering nonstop live performances for 365 days, according to the Asian Book of Records. – Photo thanglongwaterpuppet

The theatre at 57B Dinh Tien Hoang Street has accomplished remarkable achievements since its establishment in 1969.

Significant investment in 1990 allowed for the theatre and puppets to be fully restored; monthly performances came soon, followed by weekly and daily shows attended by both domestic fans and foreign tourists. The traditional art form proved extraordinarily popular, with both revenue and performance frequency increasing annually.

Almost all guided tours of Ha Noi now include a show at the theatre. More than 2,000 performances are held each year, so the theatre stays open all 365 days.

The theatre is also responsible for introducing the traditional art form to more than 50 countries.