"The Man in rubber sandals" play by Algerian playwright launched in Hanoi

On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-Algerian friendship, and the 133rd birthday of President Ho Chi Minh, the Department of International Cooperation under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in collaboration with the Algerian embassy in Vietnam and the Vietnam National Drama Theatre introduced capital's people "The Man in rubber sandals", a play written in 1970 by the renowned Algerian writer Kateb Yacine, who wrote the production while living in Vietnam.

The play "The Man in rubber sandals" follows Vietnam's journey from the Hai Ba Trung uprising against the Chinese Han domination nearly two centuries ago to the death of President Ho Chi Minh in 1969. 

Although The Man in Rubber Sandals was previously performed in Algeria and France, it has never before graced the stages of Vietnam. This momentous occasion marks a significant milestone as Yacine's work finally reaches the country that inspired it.

Yacine (1929-89) was one of the most popular writers in Algeria. He was a novelist, poet and playwright. In 1967, he came to Vietnam and greatly admired the Vietnamese struggle against the Americans.

"After the independence of Algeria, Yacine demonstrated his universal struggle through a three-year stay in Vietnam from 1967 to 1970," said Algerian ambassador to Vietnam Boubazine Abdelhamid.

"This stay in Vietnam is essential for his conception of the struggle of nationalities within an anti-colonial revolution."

Completed in 1970, the play is a master poetic work of more than 300 pages, eight acts, with around 150 characters and 1,800 dialogues featuring the historical process of Vietnam from the Hai Ba Trung uprising (between AD40-43) to the death of President Ho Chi Minh in 1969.

The script was edited and shorted by Le Manh Hung, PhD in Art, who is also one of the play's directors. "Directing and performing the play is a big challenge," Hung said. "I thought a lot before agreeing to direct the drama. I respect Yacine's sentiment toward Vietnamese people.

"I edited the script to highlight Yacine's view on the Vietnamese struggle to gain national independence. I have never worked with such a long drama," said the director and established actor. "We are eager but overwhelmed by the play. Generally, it is not only a work to focus on President Ho Chi Minh but also an epic depicting the Vietnamese country and people through historical periods", said Hung.