Seongbuk-gu 'We Are Not Joking' Wins 4 Awards at the 57th Dong-A Theater Awards

Seongbuk-gu, Seongbuk Cultural Foundation, and Theater Company 'Here, Of Course, Theater' Co-produce 'We Are Not Joking' Wins 4 Awards at the 57th Dong-A Theater Awards (Best Play, Best Direction, Best Acting, Yoon In-chon New Actor Award)

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] 'We Are Not Joking' (written by Eun-yong Lee, directed by Ja-hye Gu), co-produced by Seongbuk-gu, Seongbuk Cultural Foundation, and the theater company 'Here, of course, Theater,' won four awards at the 57th Dong-A Theater Awards, held in partnership with KT: Best Play, Best Director (Ja-hye Gu), Best Acting (Lee Ri), and the Yoo In-chon New Actor Award (Soo-jin Park).

The Dong-A Theater Awards, established in 1964, is the longest-running theater award in Korea.

'We Are Not Joking' holds special significance as the first co-produced work by the Seongbuk Cultural Foundation.

The Dong-A Theater Awards judging committee praised 'We Are Not Joking' as "an outstanding work that has transformed a play containing the voices of minorities into a fully realized performance," and added, "In terms of form, the integration of sign language interpreters, subtitles, and actors' performances on stage organically created a 'barrier-free' theater that delivered a unique resonance to the audience."

Ja-hye Gu, who received the Best Director award, expressed, "When rehearsals ended at 10 p.m., the staff at Mia Ridge Art Theater spent two hours disinfecting before leaving. I think of the Seongbuk Cultural Foundation officials who helped ensure the performance could proceed safely."

Gu, who has been working as a director for eight years, also received the 'New Concept Theater Award' at the 53rd Dong-A Theater Awards.

The awards ceremony is scheduled to take place in January next year.

For inquiries related to 'We Are Not Joking,' please contact the Regional Culture Team at the Seongbuk Cultural Foundation.