Top 6 milestones of contribution in the career of artist Pham Bang

In 1964, the Hanoi drama troupe along with other troupes such as Cheo and Cai Luong began to go their separate ways and develop independently. During this time, Pham Bang was invited by the director of the Hanoi drama troupe to participate in various performances. It was during this period that he started gaining fame for playing antagonistic roles. Director Tran Hoat began creating comedic plays that portrayed everyday life with depth, and Pham Bang took part in some of these roles. One famous quote from director Nguyen Dinh Nghi about the acting profession, which Pham Bang always kept in mind, is that actors who transition from playing tragic roles to comedic ones tend to be highly skilled.

During this period, Pham Bang moved to the Central Drama Troupe. His talent for comedy was discovered by Professor Dinh Quang, and teacher Tran Hoat commented that he had a bright future in comedic acting, a gift bestowed by the heavens. Although it wasn’t possible to open a comedy acting class, being an actor required a high level of cultural knowledge, depth, and solid thinking. For Pham Bang, he made sure to thoroughly read the entire script of every role he played to understand all the relationships between characters, which gave him confidence in his performance. Throughout his early career, he faced many hardships. But once he had established himself on stage, he passed on his knowledge of serious drama and began to teach future generations.

For Pham Bang, it was the Weekend Meeting Program that brought him closer to the public across the country. Thanks to this program, he had continuous performances from 2006 to 2010. He also became well-known for his bánh trôi tàu shop located at 30 Hang Giay, Hanoi. Unfortunately, after being ill from 2012 to 2013, he had to stop running the shop.

Pham Bang was born and raised in Hanoi. From a young age, he lost his father and was raised by his mother, who tirelessly took care of her three children. As he grew older, he desired to become an actor to make a living, but his mother strongly opposed it. Throughout his entire artistic career, he never received praise from her, nor did he expect her to ever come to the theater to watch him perform.

In 1955, Pham Bang became a student at the College of Civil Engineering. During his studies, his friends encouraged him to participate in some plays. However, a significant event occurred in 1956 when his family was classified as bourgeois and required to undergo reform. As a result, he had to drop out after just two years of studies at the college.

In 1959, Pham Bang joined the drama troupe of writer Nguyen Huy Tuong and poet Hoang Cam. Later, the government established the first intake of the University of Theater and Music, recruiting for the Hanoi art troupe. Pham Bang applied to both places and was accepted by both. Ultimately, he chose to join the Hanoi art troupe. He shared that joining the troupe not only allowed him to perform but also provided the opportunity to study and receive additional family allowances, as his family was struggling financially, and he had no stable job despite having a wife. By December 1959, he officially became a member of the Hanoi Art Troupe, which encompassed various forms of art including music, drama, dance, Cai Luong, circus, and Cheo.