Filling the Acting Gap, Connecting with the Audience... Stars Return to Theater This Year Too

A Trend Transformed by the COVID-19 Pandemic
Lower Investment Risks and Higher Success Rates with Star Actors
Theater Becomes a Blessing in Disguise for Actors

Actors who were familiar only through movies and dramas are heading to the theater again this year. They are breathing new life into the small stage, which had been overshadowed by online streaming services (OTT), movies, and musicals.

Actors Kim Do-yeon (left) and Lee Sang-yeop are demonstrating key scenes at the press call for the play 'Anna X' held on the 5th at the LG Arts Center in Magok-dong, Gangseo-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

Former girl group member Kim Doyeon and Lee Sangyeop, who has been active in dramas, made their theater debuts through 'Anna X,' which opened on the 28th of last month. Lee Donghwi and Kim Junhan, who frequently appear in movies and dramas, completed their first theater challenge with 'The Life of Others,' which ended on the 19th of last month. Lee Youngae, who has long been loved on screen and television, is in talks to appear in 'Hedda Gabler,' which is set for its premiere in May.

The participation of star actors in theater is a global trend. On Broadway in the United States, Robert Downey Jr., widely known for the movie 'Iron Man,' made his stage debut with 'MacNeil' last year. George Clooney also met audiences for the first time with the play 'Good Night and Good Luck,' which shares the same story as the movie he starred in. This fall, Keanu Reeves will make his Broadway debut with 'Waiting for Godot.'

This trend changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many production companies are lowering investment risks and increasing the chances of success by staging plays featuring stars. As intended, last year, productions such as Hwang Jungmin's 'Macbeth,' Cho Seungwoo's 'Hamlet,' and Jeon Do-yeon's 'The Cherry Orchard' all recorded seat occupancy rates of over 95%. In the case of 'The Cherry Orchard,' an overseas tour is also being prepared. A theater industry official said, "The scale of the theater industry has grown enough to have many large-scale theater performances."

Actors Park Hae-soo (left) and Jeon Do-yeon performing together in the play 'Cherry Blossom Garden'
[Photo by LG Arts Center]

Theater has also become a blessing in disguise for actors. The film and drama production market has shrunk due to the pandemic and the influence of global online streaming services (OTT), narrowing their opportunities. Many actors want to fill their acting gaps on stage while interacting with the audience and gaining inspiration. In fact, actors who debuted in theater last year, such as Yoo Seungho and Ahn Sohee, unanimously said, "We want to learn a lot."

A theater industry official explained, "As the number of content productions decreases, more actors are considering appearing in plays. From the production companies' perspective, it is more economical to stage short-term large-scale theater performances with these actors than to hold long-term small theater performances." Another official interpreted, "The passion of veteran actors like Lee Soonjae, Shin Goo, Hwang Jungmin, and Jeon Do-yeon has inspired young actors' desire to take on challenges, and the calculations of production companies seeking to create a turning point in the long-stagnant theater market have aligned."