Play 'Choihu Manchan' Wins Grand Prize at 2020 Seoul Theater Awards

Park Jung-sun, the director of 'The Last Supper,' is giving an acceptance speech. [Photo by Seoul Theater Association]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] The play "The Last Supper" by the theater company Barampul received the highest honor, the Grand Prize, at the 2020 Seoul Theater Artists Awards hosted by the Seoul Theater Association.

The Seoul Theater Artists Awards were established in 2014 to encourage and revitalize the performance activities of Seoul theater artists. This year's awards targeted works produced independently by theater companies without receiving public institution grants or support projects, performed between March and December of last year. The awards ceremony was held on the 20th at 2:30 PM at the Ieum Art Hall in Daehangno Ieum Center, where six categories and eight recipients were selected.

The Grand Prize-winning "The Last Supper" (directed by Park Jung-seok) is a work by Hong Kong writer Zheng Guowei, whose works are rarely seen domestically. The play depicts the process of a mother and son, who have long ignored each other, resolving their frozen relationship through a dinner. The judges highly praised the play for showcasing the charm of small theater and maintaining strong focus throughout. Actress Kwon Ji-sook, who played the role of Living, received the Acting Award, making "The Last Supper" a two-time winner.

The Directing Award went to director Kim Seung-chul of the creative collective Arke for the play "Gil." Kim was recognized for demonstrating a strong experimental spirit aimed at eliciting themes among the audience.

The Playwriting Award was given to Ha Il-ho, who handled both playwriting and directing, presenting a solid and well-balanced script for the play "Sewol-eun Sachil Mot Bon Sai-ui Beotkkot" by the theater company Jojiroumbaed.

The New Actor Awards were awarded to Yang Seong-hoon, who played James in the theater company Byeorangkkeutnalda's "Carmen," and Joo Young-ho, who portrayed Raymond in the theater company Piak's "The Stranger."

The Staff Awards went to Shim Yeon-joo for music, who energized the play "Carmen" with keyboard performance, and Park Chan-ho for stage, who realized the story of "Gil" on stage with a sensuous design.

Seoul Metropolitan Council members Song Myung-hwa and Lee Jun-hyung received plaques of appreciation.

This year's Seoul Theater Artists Awards were held in conjunction with the Seoul Theater Association's regular general meeting. For the first time last year, the Seoul Theater Association introduced childbirth congratulatory funds and school entrance congratulatory funds for theater artists, delivering childbirth congratulatory funds to 13 theater artists and school entrance congratulatory funds to 33 theater artists' children on this day.