Việt Nam’s most famous cải lương company was created in 1976 out of the former Southern Region Cải Lương Company (Đơàn Cải lương Nam Bộ), an arm of the National Cải Lương Company (Đoàn Cải lương Trung Ương) in Hà Nội which had been tasked to work in the south during the American War. In 1998 it was amalgamated with the Cải Lương Cultural and Artistic Troupe (Đoàn Cải lương Văn công, formerly the Liberation Cải Lương Company, Đoàn Cải lương Giải phóng). Recipient of many distinguished national awards, the company incorporates three separate performing troupes, enabling it not only to perform a weekly programme at its theatre in Hồ Chí Minh City, but also to tour to other centres of population and to participate in traditional performing arts festivals throughout the country and overseas. Trần Hữu Trang Cải Lương Theatre also functions as a training and research centre for the art of cải lương, supplying teachers to many provincial cải lương troupes. The company organises the competitive annual National Professional Cải Lương Competition, which brings cải lương troupes from all over the country to perform together in Hồ Chí Minh City. In 2001 the company established four new professional cải lương clubs throughout the city with the aim of reviving interest in the ancient craft – the ‘Looking for Companions Club’ focuses on educational performances for children, whilst the other three – the ‘Club of Generations of Artists’, the ‘Club of Directors and Scriptwriters’ and the ‘Club of Critics’ – perform a wider range of plays. Of late Trần Hữu Trang Cải Lương Theatre has collaborated with Hồ Chí Minh City Television Station (HTV), which has broadcast its most popular performances on Friday nights.