National Theater Company of Korea's 70th Anniversary New Work 'Hwajeonga', Lives of Women in Tumultuous Times

Opening on the 28th at Myeongdong Art Theater

Practice scene of 'Hwajeonga'
Photo by National Theater Company of Korea

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] The National Theater Company's 70th anniversary commemorative new original play "Hwajeonga" will open on the 28th at Myeongdong Arts Theater.

As the National Theater Company's first production of the year, it is a new work by playwright Bae Sam-sik, who has offered quiet yet profound emotions by revisiting history through works such as "Snow in March (2011)" and "1945 (2017)." It tells the story of women who lived their daily lives with composure amid the vast currents of history.

"Hwajeonga" is set in Andong, Gyeongsangbuk-do, in April 1950, just before the war. Centered on a household where the men are absent, it aims to look into the real lives behind history from the perspective of women.

"Hwajeonga" refers to a song about "Hwajeonnori," a spring game where women go out to play and enjoy making pancakes with flower petals. In April 1950, nine women who had been scattered gather at one house to celebrate "Kim's" 60th birthday. Having passed through the turbulent 1940s, a decade of national division with no time to enjoy the joy of liberation, the present they face is a time of despair where everything is shaken and frozen, just two months before the war. The story begins with these nine women deciding to go on a Hwajeonnori outing instead of a birthday party, leading to a cheerful yet poignant night.

Led by Ye Su-jeong in the role of "Kim," along with actors Jeon Guk-hyang, Kim Jeong-eun, and others boasting deep experience, the play portrays the profound solidarity among women. The cast will vividly capture the old dialect of the Andong region.

Lee Seong-ryeol, artistic director of the National Theater Company, directs "Hwajeonga." Costume designer Kim Young-jin, who has breathed new life into hanbok through works such as the drama "Mr. Sunshine" and the film "The Handmaiden," is in charge of costumes, adding visual enjoyment to the production.

Through "Hwajeonga," playwright Bae Sam-sik conveys that what sustains life amid adversity are the small memories represented by women's chatter. He advocates for the trivial and seemingly meaningless things that have been overlooked due to various "meaningful" matters such as independence, ideology, and war, and through this, seeks to reflect on the value of art.

The play "Hwajeonga" opens on the 28th and runs until the 22nd of next month.