National Theater of Korea Presents NT Live, April 3-5
Imelda Staunton, Known for "Harry Potter's Umbridge," Stars in the Cast
Shakespeare's Iconic Tragedy "Hamlet" Also to Be Staged
You will be able to see British playwright George Bernard Shaw's controversial play Mrs. Warren's Profession, which deals with the issue of prostitution, at the Daloreum Theater in the National Theater of Korea this April.
From April 3 to 5, the National Theater of Korea will present an NT Live stage at the Daloreum Theater, introducing high-definition recordings of performances by the National Theatre (NT) of the United Kingdom. Audiences will have the chance to see the representative works of two giants of British theater history: William Shakespeare and George Bernard Shaw. Shakespeare's iconic tragedy Hamlet will be screened twice each on April 3 and 4, while Bernard Shaw's controversial work Mrs. Warren's Profession will be shown twice each on April 4 and 5. This year marks the 410th anniversary of Shakespeare's death and the 170th anniversary of Bernard Shaw's birth.
The National Theatre of the United Kingdom produces high-definition video recordings of its performances and distributes them to theaters worldwide under the name NT Live. The National Theater of Korea first introduced NT Live to Korea in 2014, and since then has screened a total of 33 productions, including War Horse, Frankenstein, and Coriolanus. The cumulative audience has reached approximately 100,000 people.
The two productions being showcased this time are the latest works performed in the UK last year. Both feature lead actors who have received Laurence Olivier Awards.
Mrs. Warren's Profession is one of Bernard Shaw's representative works, infused with his characteristic sharp social insight and humor. The play sparked much controversy at the time of its release for its direct exploration of prostitution. It criticizes the existing social structure that keeps women in economically vulnerable positions and raises questions about labor and survival, as well as morality and economic independence.
The story centers on the reunion of Mrs. Warren, a successful businesswoman (Kitty Warren), and her daughter, Vivie Warren, who has just graduated from university and dreams of an independent life. The clash between the mother's life and the daughter's moral values leads their conversation beyond a simple generational gap, exposing the divide between independence and survival, ideals and reality.
In this production, a real-life mother and daughter take on the roles of mother and daughter on stage, vividly portraying the conflict of values between generations and within families. The role of Mrs. Warren is played by Imelda Staunton, a renowned actress who has won the Laurence Olivier Award five times, while her real-life daughter, Bessie Carter, plays Vivie. Staunton is well known for her role as Professor Umbridge in the Harry Potter series.
The play is directed by Dominic Cooke, known for his outstanding talent for character-driven interpretations in productions such as The Crucible and Medea.
Hiran Abeysekera, who plays the lead role of Hamlet, won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in 2022 for his performance in Life of Pi. Set against the backdrop of the Danish royal family, where intrigue and conspiracy unfold following the sudden death of the king, the play depicts Prince Hamlet's internal struggle as he faces questions of truth, responsibility, and the meaning of his own existence. This latest production of Hamlet retains the structure of the original work, while revealing political tension and the characters' inner worlds with a sharp, contemporary edge. Hamlet appears in a stylish black suit and casual attire, presented as a complex character combining rage and wit.
The play is directed by Robert Hastie, current Associate Artistic Director of the National Theatre of the United Kingdom, who has attracted attention for his work on musicals such as Standing at the Sky's Edge and Operation Mincemeat.
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