2020 Korea Theater Festival Seoul Competition Opens Next Month on the 4th in Guro-gu

11 Original Plays Performed... Grand Prize Winner to Represent Seoul at the June Korea Theater Festival

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] The "2020 Korea Theater Festival Seoul Competition," co-hosted by the Seoul Theater Association and the Guro Cultural Foundation, will be held from next month 4th to 20th at the Guro Art Valley Arts Theater and Oryu Art Hall. The Seoul Competition is a preliminary contest to select the work that will represent Seoul at the "38th Korea Theater Festival in Sejong."

This competition, planned to promote original plays, features a total of 11 works. Among them, five are world premieres being presented to the audience for the first time. The works cover a wide range of Korea's past and present, from the Goryeo Dynasty to the post-liberation Korean War, the Yushin regime era, and the current year 2020.

There are five historical plays that depict the pains of Korean history.

“Immortal Love Song” by Mokto Theater Company (written by Lee Won-kyung, adapted and directed by Joo Ho-sung), set in the Goryeo period, unfolds the late director Lee Won-kyung’s play “Immortal Wife” as a lyrical and poignant melodrama about King Gongmin and Princess Noguk. “Confession of Lee Moon” by Noeul Theater Company (written by Jung Jae-chun, directed by Lee Shin-young) deals with the Korean War and tells the story of Lee Moon, a day laborer barely surviving with his widowed mother. It traces Lee Moon’s discovery that his mother was forcibly conscripted into a sanitary unit, highlighting the still unhealed wounds of the Korean War.

Three works address the turbulent modern history of Korea after liberation.

“Insufficiently Mourned Sorrow” by the creative group Sangsangdumok (written and directed by Choi Chi-eon) fills the May 1980 Gwangju incident of “three friends’ self-harm extortion” with quirky and imaginative elements. “It’s Not Me” by Royal Theater Company (written by Kim Yi-yul, directed by Yoo Jun-gi), which begins with an incident of money raining down in the middle of the street, tells the painful story of an ordinary family’s life overturned by power. “Song of the Heavenly Poet” by Eunhaengmok Theater Company (written by Jo Gwang-hwa, directed by Lee Gi-seok) portrays the life of pure poet Cheon Sang-byeong, reflecting on the rapidly changing society and the selfish and cruel lifestyles of modern people.

Six works sharply critique the problems of our current era.

“Mackerel” by Samgaksan Theater Company (written by Lim Yo-han, directed by Song Jeong-bau) and “Snowy Spring Day” by Myeongjang Theater Company (written by Kim Jeong-sook, directed by Yoon Hyun-sik) make us think about neighbors through incidents occurring in redevelopment areas and the transformation of neighborhoods into apartment complexes.

“30 Days of Nightmare” by Chorus Theater Company and Project Group Yeonhee Workshop (written by Lee Geun-sam, adapted and directed by Lee Ji-soo) and “Pig and Horse” by the creative group Kkol (written by Seo Jong-hyun, directed by Son Hyun-gyu) address issues of class and social strata. “30 Days of Nightmare” is a re-creation of Lee Geun-sam’s original work “30 Days of Excursion” adapted to the present. Apartment residents’ representatives go on a retreat but become stranded on an uninhabited island, depicting human desire to dominate even in survival situations. “Pig and Horse,” inspired by George Orwell’s “Animal Farm” from 1945 and its aftermath, is a 21st-century animal fable portraying animals’ struggle to seize class power challenging human authority.

“Father’s Attic” by Haebandre Theater Company (written by Kim Chun-bok, adapted and directed by Yoo Kyung-min) tells the story of the silver generation, beginning with a novelist who has lived arrogantly being diagnosed with dementia. It honestly explores family conflicts and overcoming processes, including frank discussions of sexuality among the elderly. “Rollocoster” by White Cat Theater Company (written by Guk Min-seong, directed by Hwang Tae-seon) depicts the struggles of four middle-aged people seeking answers to pension reform issues, prompting reflection on how to prepare for the imminent super-aged society.

The Seoul Theater Association has been co-hosting the Seoul Competition with each district of Seoul since 2017 to revitalize local theater. Following last year’s collaboration with Seongdong Cultural Foundation, this year it partners with the Guro Cultural Foundation. Ji Chun-seong, president of the Seoul Theater Association, stated, “The Korea Theater Festival Seoul Competition is a place to select plays representing Seoul, so excellent original plays compete. We hope this competition will inspire creative enthusiasm among theater artists, expand cultural enjoyment opportunities for local residents, and serve as a link between the theater community and local society.”

Tickets can be reserved on the Guro Cultural Foundation website and Interpark Ticket. Performances will be held every other day at the Guro Art Valley Arts Theater and Oryu Art Hall. The Seoul representative team for the finals will be announced at the awards ceremony on the 21st of next month, and the grand prize winner will participate as Seoul’s representative at the “38th Korea Theater Festival” held in Sejong City starting in June.

The Seoul Theater Association plans to place prevention rule banners and broadcast guidance announcements before performances during the festival in response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The Guro Cultural Foundation will complete disinfection of the two venues hosting the Seoul Competition and provide hand sanitizers.