Severe Disability Story That Won Japan's Akutagawa Prize Adapted Into Play "Hunchback"

At Daloreum Theater, National Theater of Korea, June 12-15

The National Theater of Korea will premiere the play "Hunchback," based on the autobiographical novel of a writer with a severe disability, at the Daloreum Theater from June 12 to June 15, 2025.

"Hunchback" is the world's first stage adaptation of the novel of the same name by Ichikawa Sao, which won the Akutagawa Prize, Japan's most prestigious literary award, in 2023.

Ichikawa suffers from congenital myotubular myopathy, a rare muscular disease. The protagonist of the novel, Izawa Shaka, is a woman in her forties who has the same disability as the author. Relying on a ventilator and an electric wheelchair, Shaka serializes novels online under the pen name "Shaka" (紗花), featuring explicit sexual depictions. The novel drew attention for its provocative premise and bold social commentary, as the protagonist longs for a body capable of pregnancy and abortion like non-disabled women.

In addition, the work has been highly praised for breaking away from the conventions of disability narratives written by non-disabled authors from an outsider’s perspective. Instead, it is recognized as "literature by the person concerned," as a writer with a severe disability directly describes her own experience. Ichikawa commented on the work, saying, "This is the first time since becoming disabled that I have directly confronted my own subjectivity."

The play is directed by Shin Yucheong, renowned for his delicate reinterpretations of famous works such as "Angels in America," "Scorched," and "Thebes Land." The adaptation was handled by Kim Doyoung, known for "Red Leaves," "The Story of Geumjo," and "Almagest," along with Kim Jinsook, who has translated and adapted works including "Angels in America," "The Crucible," and "Thebes Land."

To preserve the authenticity of the original work, the play "Hunchback" does not alter the novel’s narrative sentences into dialogue. Instead, it brings the narrative form directly onto the stage.

Director Shin explained, "If the original were adapted into a conventional play, it might only show one aspect of the protagonist, Shaka. Rather than simply transferring the novel to the stage, we are focusing on expressing, in a multisensory way, the range of emotions and interpretations that each person may feel after reading the novel."

On stage, five actors, both with and without disabilities, take turns delivering the serious yet humorous narrative of the original work. To portray the protagonist Shaka, who is written in the first person, in a more multidimensional way, two actors play the same role together on stage. The two Shakas reflect each other as both self and other, illuminating the character’s inner world.

The play "Hunchback" will be presented as a barrier-free performance, allowing both disabled and non-disabled audiences to enjoy the show equally. Four sign language interpreters will provide shadow interpretation, accompanying the actors’ narration and movements. In addition, changes on stage and actors’ movements will be described through closed audio description, and the dialogue will be provided as Korean subtitles in the video. On the day of the performance, a free program book including braille will be available.