[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] Three performances selected as the best works among the productions by 15 resident groups in Gyeonggi Province this year will take the stage at Uijeongbu Arts Center.
The Uijeongbu Cultural Foundation and Gyeonggi Cultural Foundation will co-host the "7th Gyeonggi Performing Arts Festa: NEXT WAVE" from November 29 to December 5. The Gyeonggi Performing Arts Festa, now in its seventh year, is a "creation support-type art market" that shares the achievements of resident groups and professional arts organizations in cultural centers across the Gyeonggi region and promotes the activation of performance distribution. Through diverse programs such as "Creation Showcase," "Best Collection," "Performance Brokerage Project," "Symposium," "Cultural Snacks," and "Goods Exhibition," the festival shares the achievements of cultural centers, resident groups, and professional arts organizations throughout the year.
Among these, the "Best Collection" is a program that selects and performs the three works that received the highest evaluations this year. This year, the selected works are "Temple" by Performance Delivery Service Ganda, "Fever" by Ambiguous Dance Company, and "Kind Pig" by Sejong Gugak Orchestra.
The play "Temple" is based on the autobiographical story of the world-renowned animal scientist Dr. Temple Grandin. It is a work that prominently features the characteristics of "physical theater," which actively utilizes the actor's movements and gestures.
Dr. Grandin, who was selected as one of TIME magazine's "100 Most Influential People in the World," was diagnosed as an autistic child who would live her entire life in a care facility at the age of two. The play "Temple" is structured in the form of Dr. Grandin's autobiography, depicting her successful self-development process through accepting and developing her unique perception of the world with the help of her devoted mother.
The pain, confusion, and fear she endured while confronting societal prejudice are expressed through Performance Delivery Service Ganda's solid script, original direction, and delicate choreography.
The second work, "Fever," is a unique piece that reinterprets Korean traditional artistic elements from a modern perspective under the keyword "living tradition." It is a theater version of the street performance by Ambiguous Dance Company, which has recently gained fame through the Korea Tourism Organization's promotional video "Feel the Rhythm of Korea."
Based on addictive traditional music rhythms, live DJing, taepyeongso sinawi, and vocal performances by a sorikkun (traditional Korean singer) are combined with the dancers' unique movements. This work, choreographed by Ambiguous Dance Company, breaks the stereotypes of modern dance and aims to communicate more intimately with the audience through distinctive musical interpretation and expressive movements.
The third work, "Kind Pig," is a creative musical play produced by Sejong Gugak Orchestra, based on the children's fairy tale of the same name by author Shin Jeong-min, which was selected as the "Book of the Year in the Children's Category" in 2018.
Kind Pig is a magical dream guide who allows children to dream any dream they desire. With its ingenious ideas and interesting scenarios, it guides many children away from conventional future dreams to freely imagine and pursue the dreams they truly want.
The small-scale musical "Kind Pig" offers warm laughter and emotion to children and families through Korean traditional chamber music, lively pansori, and easy-to-sing musical numbers.
Featuring talented sorikkun Kim So-jin, currently the vocalist of the Tanimotion Band; sorikkun Jung Cho-rong, a holder of Intangible Cultural Property No. 23 for Gayageum Sanjo and Byeongchang; and seasoned actors Baek Seung-tae and Jung Hye-in, who have solid experience in numerous musicals. The performance is accompanied by the Sejong Gugak Orchestra and Gunpo City Children's Choir.
"Temple" will be performed on the 30th at 8 p.m., "Fever" on December 3 at 8 p.m., and "Kind Pig" will be performed twice on December 5 at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
For inquiries and reservations for the 2020 top three performances "Best Collection," please visit the Uijeongbu Cultural Foundation website or Interpark Ticket.
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