Originally established in the Việt Bắc Resistance Zone in 1951, this company played an important role in entertaining troops at the front during the final stages of the war with the French. After 1954 it won numerous awards for its work, leading in 1964 to the establishment of a fully-fledged national company comprising two troupes – the National Cải Lương Company (Đoàn Cải lương Trung Ương) in Hà Nội and the Southern Region Cải Lương Company (Đơàn Cải lương Nam Bộ) which was tasked to work in the south during the American War. After Reunification in 1976 the latter became the Trần Hữu Trang Cải Lương Theatre. In 1978 the National Cải Lương Theatre was established in Hà Nội with the aim of researching, collecting and performing cải lương works and of developing the art form. The 76-member national cải lương company specialises in northern-style cải lương which is presented in northern dialect. It has won many national awards and includes many famous cải lương artists. The National Cải Lương Theatre performs regularly, both in the capital and around the country.