A Work Featuring the Inventions of Joseon-Era Genius Scientist Jang Youngsil (Born in Dongnae-eup, Busan)
7:30 PM on the 23rd, 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM on the 24th and 25th at the National Gugak Center in Busan
The National Gugak Center in Busan (Director: Lee Jeongyeop) will present the family-friendly gugak performance "One Day Nap, One Night Nap" from August 23 to 25 at the Yejidang Hall of the National Gugak Center in Busan.
Poster for the family-friendly traditional Korean music performance "Day Breath Hana, Night Breath Hana."
This new production for 2024 is based on the inventions of Jang Youngsil (1390??), a genius scientist of the Joseon Dynasty who was born in Dongnae-eup, Busan.
The story follows the journey of the protagonist (Ilwol) and sea creatures (whale, crab, jellyfish, starfish, octopus, etc.) as they search for the scientific principles behind Jang Youngsil's well-known inventions: the sundial (Yangbu Ilgu), the water clock (Jagyeokru), and the astronomical observation instrument (Honcheoni).
Rather than narrating the life of Jang Youngsil himself, the story unfolds with his grandson as the main character. The performance incorporates a variety of traditional vocal music such as pansori, binari, Byeoldalgeori (song), and folk songs, as well as various elements of traditional performance art, all carefully arranged to capture the attention of children.
For the creation of this family-friendly play, gugak artists, theater professionals, and experts from various fields came together to ask questions of each other, sharing a creative process that viewed the world through the eyes of children and Jang Youngsil, and explored science together.
The production team includes Choi Yeorim (director), Choi Haein (writer/script), Kim Hyeonbo (composer), Park Jiyoung (assistant director), Shin Seungnyeol (stage design), Kwon Youngho (movement director), Moon Byeongju (acting coach/guest appearance), Lee Soseon (dramaturgy/educational experience director), and Jeong Yoonjeong (props design), all of whom are either from Busan or have extensive experience in producing children's works in Busan. In addition, Baek Sujin (costume design), Joo Hoil (sound design), and Jeon Youngmin (lighting design), members of the National Gugak Center in Busan, are directly involved as designers.
The family-friendly play "One Day Nap, One Night Nap" at the National Gugak Center in Busan offers a time for children to wonder about nature and time as they look at the sky and sea, sun and moon, and to imagine what the world was like in the distant past when Jang Youngsil lived.
The National Gugak Center in Busan has been continuously developing gugak content to promote the Korean Wave (Hallyu). From 2015 to 2017, "The Queen's Banquet Season I·II·III" attracted 75,828 attendees (80% seat occupancy), from 2018 to 2019, "Match Made in Heaven Season I·II" drew 23,085 attendees (84% seat occupancy), in 2020, "Gupodang Forest_If I Could Hug You" had 926 attendees (98% seat occupancy), in 2023, "Chumbaram Bunday" had 1,052 attendees (99.6% seat occupancy), and from 2023 to 2024, the Joseon Tongsinsa-related "Yumado" had 5,720 attendees (85% seat occupancy), with a total of 590 performances held.
In 2024, the center will host a family-friendly play that the whole family can enjoy, and will continue to provide joy and inspiration through traditional arts by developing new content in the future.
The performance is open to those aged 5 and older (born before August 2020), and all seats are priced at 20,000 won. Tickets can be reserved in advance online or by phone through the National Gugak Center in Busan website. For detailed information on ticketing, discounts, and more, please visit the website.
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