Encounter with the Giant White Whale Moby Dick... 'The 21st Busan International Theater Festival' Opens

From May 24 to June 2, 50 Works from 14 Countries Including Premieres and Acclaimed Films at 9 Venues Including Busan Cinema Center

Opening Ceremony at 7 PM on May 24 at Busan Cinema Center... Opening Film: Plexus Polaire Puppet Show 'Moby Dick'

Busan City will host the 21st Busan International Performing Arts Festival (BIPAF) (Executive Director: Son Byungtae) at a total of nine venues, including the Busan Cinema Center and Busan Cultural Center, for ten days from May 24 to June 2.

Poster of the 21st Busan International Theatre Festival.

Starting with the opening ceremony at 7 p.m. on May 24 at the Sky Theater of the Busan Cinema Center, a total of 50 diverse works from 14 countries will be presented to citizens at venues including the outdoor plaza of the Busan Cinema Center, the medium theater of Busan Cultural Center, the small theater of Busan Citizens Hall, the Yeno Small Theater at Kyungsung University, Yongcheon Jiral Small Theater, Haneul Baram Small Theater, Gwangalli Meeting Plaza, and Millak Beach Park.

Celebrating its 21st anniversary this year, the festival will feature Italy as the guest country to commemorate the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Italy. In collaboration with the Italian Cultural Institute in Korea, the festival will offer even more diverse programs under the concept of "Global Link from BIPAF."

Having showcased numerous outstanding domestic and international works and grown into the largest performing arts festival in Busan, the festival will use this collaboration not only to invite excellent works but also to provide master classes and overseas advancement programs, accelerating its leap onto the global stage.

This year's festival is designed as a festival-type event that everyone can enjoy, transcending the boundaries between theaters and outdoor spaces. The program includes outstanding domestic and international invited works and overseas advancement competition programs for theater performances, as well as outdoor performances such as "Dynamic Street," a busking-style show, and the "10-Minute Play Festival," created and performed by citizens.

The opening performance is the Korean premiere of "Moby Dick" by Plexus Polaire, a work based on the novel by Herman Melville, reimagined with 50 life-sized puppets, seven actors, and dynamic video.

‘Plexus Polaire’'s ‘Moby Dick’.

The closing performance is the Korean premiere of "Macbettu" by Teatro Persona & Sardegna Teatro, a reinterpretation of Shakespeare's "Macbeth" in the Sardinian language. This work won the "Best Performance" award at Italy's most prestigious theater awards, the Premio UBU, in 2017.

‘Persona Theater & Sardegna Theater (Teatro Persona & Sardegna Teatro)’s ‘Macbettu’.

Other highlights include "Sichu" by the Korean theater company Moonjibang, selected as the best notable work at the 2023 Busan International Performing Arts Festival; "The Insider" from Denmark; "Misericordia" by world-renowned Italian female director Emma Dante; and "Absence Imbalance Balance," an Italian piece that conveys its message through the language of the body.

The small theater program is composed of the "Global Program," an overseas advancement competition, featuring works such as "8um" by Blue Dance Theater 2, "4Who" by Who Dance Company, "Made in Korea" by Seongbukdong Bidulgi, "Jae (Rite)_Burning Life" by 99 Art Company, and "Tipping Point" by Chorokso.

The groups selected as finalists in the "Global Program" will be invited to the "Fabbrica Europa Festival" in Florence, Italy in 2024 and the "Gomanaru International Theater Festival" in Korea.

For outdoor performances, "Dynamic Street" will feature six outstanding street artist teams selected through fierce competition, and the "10-Minute Play Festival" will showcase performances created directly by citizens.

In addition, a variety of programs will be offered, including a master class and "Artist Talk" on the theme of "Commedia dell'arte," the traditional Italian comic theater style, providing audiences with the essence of high-quality performing arts.

Mayor Park Hyungjoon said, "I hope citizens will gain a deeper understanding and enjoyment of theater through the special stages and diverse programs prepared by the Busan International Performing Arts Festival," adding, "We will actively support Busan theater's leap onto the world stage and its role as a medium for international cultural exchange."

Tickets for this year's festival can be reserved through YES24 Ticket, Interpark Ticket, and the Busan Cinema Center website. Detailed information and schedules are available on the official website of the Busan International Performing Arts Festival.