Interview with the Creative Team of the Acclaimed "Life of Pi"
Korean Premiere to Open at GS Art Center on December 2
"When I locked eyes with Richard Parker, the Bengal tiger on stage, it felt as if I was witnessing a living being. I was overwhelmed by the joy, shock, and exhilaration of that moment, and I wanted to share those emotions with Korean audiences."
Shin Dongwon, CEO of S&Co and producer of the highly anticipated production "Life of Pi," explained his motivation for bringing the show to Korea during a production team interview held at GS Art Center on the 26th.
Well-known as both a novel and a film, "Life of Pi" tells the story of Pi, an Indian boy stranded in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, and Richard Parker, a Bengal tiger, as they drift together on a raft for 227 days, learning how to survive together. The original novel "Life of Pi" by Canadian author Yann Martel won the Man Booker Prize in the UK in 2002. Renowned director Ang Lee adapted the novel into the film "Life of Pi," which earned him the Academy Award for Best Director at the 2013 Oscars.
The production team of "Life of Pi," Kate Rowell, Puppet Director, Lee Tony, Director, and Dongwon Shin, CEO of S&Co, are explaining the work during a joint interview held at GS Art Center on the 26th. Photo by S&Co
A Story of Friendship Between an Indian Boy and a Bengal Tiger Adrift in the Pacific
After its success as a novel and film, "Life of Pi" was adapted for the stage and premiered in Sheffield, UK, in 2019. It went on to open in London’s West End in 2021 and on Broadway in New York in 2023, achieving commercial success in both cities.
As a fan of both the original novel and the film, Shin Dongwon admitted he was skeptical even as he traveled to see the West End production in 2021. He doubted how realistically the massive movements of a Bengal tiger could be portrayed on stage. However, seeing Richard Parker brought to life as a puppet on stage was a shocking experience. Shin said, "All the stage arts presented in Life of Pi-acting, puppetry, video, and sound-were truly magical."
The stage adaptation of "Life of Pi" won five awards, including Best New Play, at the 2022 Laurence Olivier Awards in the UK, making it the most awarded production that year. It also won three Tony Awards in 2023 for Lighting, Sound, and Scenic Design in the play category. Although it was recognized as a play at the Tony Awards, Shin emphasized that it is difficult to define the work solely as a play, describing it as a new genre.
He said, "While preparing for Life of Pi, I realized it was a work that could not be confined to the conventional formats of musicals or plays, so I named it a new genre: 'Live on Stage.' I believe audiences will understand the meaning when they experience the show in person."
Original Novel Won the Man Booker Prize, Film Won the Oscar for Best Director, and Stage Production Won Three Tony Awards
The movements of the Bengal tiger Richard Parker are brought to life by three puppeteers working in perfect harmony. One puppeteer, positioned next to the Richard Parker puppet, controls the tiger’s head and gaze, while the other two wear the puppet, which is designed to replicate an actual tiger’s skeleton. One operates the front legs, and the other controls the hind legs and tail. Kate Rowell, Puppet Director, explained that the puppeteer in charge of the front legs is also responsible for Richard Parker’s heartbeat and breathing.
Kate Rowell described the performance as physically demanding for the three puppeteers who must embody the tiger’s movements.
"The puppeteers must maintain awkward postures for extended periods and use muscles that are not typically engaged in daily life. These muscles cannot be developed at an ordinary gym, so additional training is required. The only way to build the optimal strength needed for this show is to practice with the puppet as often as possible every day. Because it is so physically demanding, constant repetition is essential."
Kate Rowell also added, "Because three puppeteers must work together inside a single puppet, their coordination and breathing are extremely important. It takes a very long time to achieve that level of synchronization."
Director Lee Tony expressed confidence in the realistic portrayal of the Bengal tiger’s movements, stating, "At some point, the audience will begin to believe the puppets are real tigers, and as the story unfolds, the puppeteers will seem to disappear from view. It’s a fascinating experience."
Three Puppeteers Realistically Recreate the Movements of the Bengal Tiger
Puppeteers demonstrated the movements of the Bengal tiger Richard Parker during a joint interview with the production team of "Life of Pi" held at GS Art Center on the 26th. Photo by S&Co
"Life of Pi" began its world tour last year, traveling to major cities in Canada, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), India, China, and Taiwan, and is set to open in Seoul on December 2. The show will run for three months at GS Art Center in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, until March 2 of next year. This is the first time "Life of Pi" will be performed in a language other than English, with all performances in Korean. The puppeteers were also selected from among Korean actors.
Shin Dongwon said, "I believed that the philosophical messages of this work would resonate much more deeply with the audience when delivered in Korean." He added, "Training the puppeteers is an extremely challenging process, but I felt it was essential for Korean actors to work together and create the show."
This challenging and arduous production process is closely aligned with the themes of the work itself.
Director Lee Tony emphasized that "Life of Pi" is a story about hope, perseverance, and endurance.
"It is physically demanding, but it also requires a great deal emotionally from the actors. This work depicts Pi’s journey to continually find hope in the face of adversity. That is an incredibly important value in life. Audiences can relate to Pi because the story conveys the importance of family and friends who help us overcome hardship, making it universally relatable no matter where in the world you are."
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