Little Artists on the Big Stage: Grade 2 & 3 Olympians bring Vietnamese folktales to life

The lights of “Little Artists on the Big Stage” shine once again as the young performers from Grades 2 and 3 step confidently into the spotlight, bringing with them a vibrant world of Vietnamese folktales. From familiar stories such as Tam Cam, The Mouse Wedding, The Legend of the Cockscomb Flower, and The Legend of the Mosquito to meaningful reflections on good and evil, each performance not only reimagines childhood tales in a lively way but also reveals the Olympians’ growth through every role.

For Grade 2, the journey into Vietnamese folktales unfolds in colorful and imaginative scenes. Students transform into characters from The Mouse Wedding, recreating a lively folk painting through music, innocent dialogue, and smooth coordination. At times, the whole auditorium bursts into laughter at the children’s delightful expressions; at others, the audience watches attentively as the “little artists” handle each plot twist with confidence and creativity.

Following this, Grade 3 invites the audience into a more emotionally layered theme of Good, Evil, and Folktales through the excerpt Tre Coc. The stage atmosphere becomes more dramatic as contrasting characters appear. Tense moments quiet the room, then applause erupts as the performance concludes. Through natural acting, clear expressions, and flexible storytelling, Grade 3 Olympians demonstrate noticeable growth in both performance skills and content interpretation.

Behind these vivid moments lies months of dedicated preparation. The journey begins with reading and exploring Vietnamese folktales, drawing or writing about memorable details, learning acting techniques with guest theater artists, and then moving on to understanding the script, assigning roles, and practicing lines. Step by step - reading, understanding, rehearsing, and refining - each “little artist” gradually gains confidence in owning the stage while strengthening communication skills and teamwork.

The “Little Artists on the Big Stage” project therefore not only helps Olympians approach folk literature and Vietnamese language learning in a lively way, but also opens a meaningful journey of growth through each role - helping students become more confident, better understand the values of good and evil, and grow alongside the stories of childhood.