School Play Secondary 2026: Once Upon The Trial

Building on the success of previous years, this year’s production offers a fresh perspective on familiar fairy tales. Moving beyond the traditional “happily ever after,” the play “Once Upon The Trial” invites the audience into a dramatic courtroom, where characters are brought face-to-face with truth, justice, and questions that have never been asked before.

Through a blend of acting, music, and contemporary storytelling, the play promises a theatrical experience that is both emotionally engaging and thought-provoking. More than just a performance, it offers audiences an opportunity to reflect on familiar ideas such as “love,” “family,” and “happiness” from a deeper and more critical perspective.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE SHOW 

• Language: English
• Time: 17:30 – 19:30, Friday, May 15, 2026
• Venue: Trinh Cong Son Auditorium, UTS Van Lang Complex
• Ticket price: 100,000 VNĐ
• Ticket booking:
  • Purchase tickets online via this link
  • Purchase tickets directly at UTS Shop or Main Lobby (daily from 4:20 PM – 5:30 PM).

STORY SYNOPSIS

What happens when fairy tales don’t end with “happily ever after”?

Once Upon The Trial offers a completely new perspective by placing familiar stories in a cold and unforgiving courtroom, where magic is no longer the solution to every problem and every statement must be supported by evidence.

• The first case begins with Cinderella. No longer a girl saved by magic, she enters the courtroom with the story of someone who has endured years of forced labor, exploitation, and abuse under the guise of “family duty”. When crucial evidence seems to have disappeared and the case falls into a dead end, the truth is unexpectedly brought to light, revealing a story that has long existed but has never truly been heard.
• The next case leads us to Rapunzel’s tower, where she spent eighteen years in captivity, mistaking it for care and protection. As the truth unfolds, a painful paradox reveals itself: a prison does not always require locks or iron walls; sometimes, fear alone is enough to keep a person from ever walking away.
• The final case centers on Belle, who chooses to remain in the castle in place of her father. Although she is treated as a “guest,” she never truly has freedom of her own there. Beneath the gentle gestures and gifts lies the master’s anger and strict control over her. In the end, Belle is left to face a difficult question: can change truly erase past wounds, and can something that begins in fear ever become real love?

In this play, the audience will take on the role of the Jury, listening to each story, weighing the evidence, and delivering your own verdict. The play goes beyond simply telling a story, and it will challenge you to question your own morals and to reflect on the way you see the world and the choices people make.

Register HERE!