Special theater venture reignites public passion
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Plays have long suffered from small audiences in Korea, but lately the situation had been made worse by the rising popularity of musicals.
However, there is a group that is intent on keeping the flame for the theater alive, and its efforts are obviously paying off.
In 2004 a special production group called Yeongeukyeoljeon was created. The company staged plays that had not been shown before, and soon enough, there were regular fans.
Its second season kicked off in December last year and the project has gained momentum with the veteran TV and movie actor Cho Jae-hyun taking the helm.
Jo has tried to put out modern and youth-orientated plays that are approachable to a wide audience to draw people back to the theater. Another strategy was to cast popular TV and movie actors to star in the plays, and that strategy has also worked.
Yeongukyeoljeon 2, as the current series is called, drew more than 10,000 theatergoers in the first half of the year.
"I think the project so far has been successful in terms of the intention of the project, which was to produce fresh plays that were approachable to the public", Jo said at a press conference on Aug. 7.
Cho Jae-hyun speaks at a press conference Aug. 7. Yeongeukyeoljeon2
Jo added that, although he and his company had been criticized for focusing too much on attracting audiences by bringing well-known actors to the stage, he was satisfied with the fact that the popularity of the genre had increased.
"But I hope that from now on, more performances starring play actors will be presented, and will get just as much attention and love from audiences", Jo said.
Eleven plays have been lined up by Yeongeukyeoljeon through January of next year. The 7th and 8th pieces - "Shape of Things" and "Night Mother" are scheduled to hit stage later this month.
The theme and mood of the two plays, both overseas productions, are quite distinct from one another. The former is light in tone and deals with love between men and women, whereas the latter deals with a mother-daughter relationship and suicide.
TV and movie actress Yoo Sun will star in the "Shape of Things". Yoo will play the role of Se-kyung, who turns nerdy and unattractive Yang-woo into a good-looking, well-groomed man in the 18 weeks she dates him.
The show was originally written in 2001 by the U.S. writer Neil Labute. The playwright also wrote "Some Girls", which has recently ended its first run in the country. However, with the unexpected twist in the end, it will not be just an ordinary romantic comedy, according to Yoo.
The play will run from Aug. 22 to Oct. 26 at the Dongsoong Art Center. Tickets are 25,000 won and 35,000 won.
With veteran actresses Na Mun-hee and Son Sook alternating in the role of the mother Thelma, "Night Mother" looks at the importance of communication between family members. It is the only piece that has been revived from the original Yeongeukyeoljeon in 2004.
The show is about Jessie, a divorcee, who lives with her mother. One day, Jessie says she wants to commit suicide. Much of the play consists of the last conversation between Jessie and her mother before Jessie kills herself.
Director Mun Sam-hwa said that Jessie's suicide does not mean that she is giving up on her life, but rather making an active and brave choice.
"Night Mother" will run from Aug. 29 to Nov. 2 at Wonder Space Theater. Tickets are 30,000 won and 40,000 won. For details, call (02) 766-6007 or visit www.idsartcenter.co.kr/playplay
By Koh Young-aah
However, there is a group that is intent on keeping the flame for the theater alive, and its efforts are obviously paying off.
In 2004 a special production group called Yeongeukyeoljeon was created. The company staged plays that had not been shown before, and soon enough, there were regular fans.
Its second season kicked off in December last year and the project has gained momentum with the veteran TV and movie actor Cho Jae-hyun taking the helm.
Jo has tried to put out modern and youth-orientated plays that are approachable to a wide audience to draw people back to the theater. Another strategy was to cast popular TV and movie actors to star in the plays, and that strategy has also worked.
Yeongukyeoljeon 2, as the current series is called, drew more than 10,000 theatergoers in the first half of the year.
"I think the project so far has been successful in terms of the intention of the project, which was to produce fresh plays that were approachable to the public", Jo said at a press conference on Aug. 7.
Cho Jae-hyun speaks at a press conference Aug. 7. Yeongeukyeoljeon2
Jo added that, although he and his company had been criticized for focusing too much on attracting audiences by bringing well-known actors to the stage, he was satisfied with the fact that the popularity of the genre had increased.
"But I hope that from now on, more performances starring play actors will be presented, and will get just as much attention and love from audiences", Jo said.
Eleven plays have been lined up by Yeongeukyeoljeon through January of next year. The 7th and 8th pieces - "Shape of Things" and "Night Mother" are scheduled to hit stage later this month.
The theme and mood of the two plays, both overseas productions, are quite distinct from one another. The former is light in tone and deals with love between men and women, whereas the latter deals with a mother-daughter relationship and suicide.
TV and movie actress Yoo Sun will star in the "Shape of Things". Yoo will play the role of Se-kyung, who turns nerdy and unattractive Yang-woo into a good-looking, well-groomed man in the 18 weeks she dates him.
The show was originally written in 2001 by the U.S. writer Neil Labute. The playwright also wrote "Some Girls", which has recently ended its first run in the country. However, with the unexpected twist in the end, it will not be just an ordinary romantic comedy, according to Yoo.
The play will run from Aug. 22 to Oct. 26 at the Dongsoong Art Center. Tickets are 25,000 won and 35,000 won.
With veteran actresses Na Mun-hee and Son Sook alternating in the role of the mother Thelma, "Night Mother" looks at the importance of communication between family members. It is the only piece that has been revived from the original Yeongeukyeoljeon in 2004.
The show is about Jessie, a divorcee, who lives with her mother. One day, Jessie says she wants to commit suicide. Much of the play consists of the last conversation between Jessie and her mother before Jessie kills herself.
Director Mun Sam-hwa said that Jessie's suicide does not mean that she is giving up on her life, but rather making an active and brave choice.
"Night Mother" will run from Aug. 29 to Nov. 2 at Wonder Space Theater. Tickets are 30,000 won and 40,000 won. For details, call (02) 766-6007 or visit www.idsartcenter.co.kr/playplay
By Koh Young-aah
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