[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] The play "Coriolanus" has been selected as the Repertoire of the Year in the 2019 Korea Arts & Culture Education Service Performing Arts Creation Workshop and will be re-staged after four years.
"Coriolanus" opens on the 15th and runs until the 31st at Content Culture Plaza Stage 66.
"Coriolanus" is a reimagined work based on Shakespeare's original of the same name. The original, which deals with an anti-hero during the early Roman Republic period when social structures rapidly changed and values clashed, is modernized to pose fundamental questions about political structures, national identity, media politics, and representative democracy. At its premiere in 2016, it drew attention for its subtle connection to South Korea's turbulent political situation at the time.
The spatial setting of the play is Roma, a fictional modern country where security issues play a crucial role in diplomacy and politics due to conflicts with neighboring countries. The Roman Defense Forces harshly suppress protests by people suffering from wealth disparity and economic hardship, while activist Brutus, together with opposition politician Sicinius, demands punishment for the officer Martius, who led the suppression, at a parliamentary debate. Martius appears in parliament and delivers harsh remarks dismissing the citizens on a nationwide live broadcast. This sparks protests and a bomb attack occurs in the city center.
The Roman Defense Forces accuse Volski of being behind the terror attack and launch retaliatory strikes, escalating into a full-scale war. As the domestic situation in Roma fluctuates and falls into chaos according to the war developments broadcast through the media, news arrives that Martius has captured the enemy capital Corioli. Citizens give overwhelming cheers and support to war hero Martius, who has alleviated security concerns and brought economic benefits, and the parliament, backed by overwhelming public opinion, appoints Martius as prime minister.
Actor Baek Ik-nam, who appeared in "The Death of Dangtong" and "The Boy in the Last Row," plays Menenius, and actor Shin An-jin, known for "Happy Together" and "Gaji," stars as Coriolanus. Other original cast members such as Kang Myung-joo from "Blood and Seed," Seon Myung-gyun from "Sputnik," and Choi Yo-han from "Route 7" also participate again.
"Coriolanus" was one of Shakespeare's works featured in the 5-hour 30-minute play "Roman Tragedy," which was performed at the LG Arts Center last November and attracted attention. "Roman Tragedy" is a piece that weaves together three Shakespearean plays set in Rome, with "Coriolanus" being the first of these plays.
As in "Roman Tragedy," in the play "Coriolanus," the audience exists both as citizens (viewers) and spectators. The politicians appearing perform political acts toward the citizens, and their actions and words are reproduced in real-time media on stage and shown to the audience. The space does not distinguish between stage and seats, and depending on the structure and situation of each scene, the environment surrounding the audience changes sensorially and intensely. The audience simultaneously faces the reality of the characters and their media-reflected images, experiences the gap between them, and makes value judgments according to their own subjective will and perspective.
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