National theater unveils 2020-21 program amid COVID-19

Kim Cheol-ho, fourth from left, CEO of the National Theater of Korea (NTOK), poses with artistic directors of the theater after holding a press conference for the art company's 2020-2021 program at the theater in Seoul, July 24. Courtesy of NTK

By Park Ji-won

The National Theater of Korea (NTOK) has unveiled its 2020-2021 program, which seeks more collaborative works with other national troupes to mark its 70th anniversary while pledging to set a new normal amid the pandemic.

"For the NTOK, which celebrated its 70th anniversary, the season is a starting point of the establishment of a new normal (in this pandemic era)… Through this season, we will solidify the identity of the NTOK by adding depth to traditional and contemporary works," Kim Cheol-ho, CEO of the NTOK, said in a press release on June 24. The NTOK consists of three art troupes on dance, "changgeuk" (traditional Korean opera) and traditional Korean music.

The 70-year-old art company will present 49 shows including 23 new performances from Aug. 18, 2020, to June 30, 2021.

Specifically, "Five Elements," the first work choreographed by Sohn In-young, artistic director of the National Dance Company of Korea, will be performed on Sept. 17 to 20 by the dance troupe to kick off the program. It is designed to highlight the importance of keeping the five elements harmonious, a key philosophy of Eastern culture, by showing that their imbalance causes environmental disaster such as the spread of the virus.

Performances to celebrate the reopening of the Haeoreum Grand Theater in April, which closed down three years ago for reconstruction, are also set to be staged.

"Sugung-ga," a new show by the National Changgeuk Company of Korea opening in June 2021, will be performed to show the discrepancies of contemporary society through a satirical tale, based on one of the five surviving traditional narrative "pansori" plays. The National Orchestra of Korea will launch the Ieum Music Festival, a new festival on creative music, in April, while the dance troupe will show "Ceremony 64," a powerful performance on ceremonial dances of Korea.

"Sanjo," newly choreographed by Choi Jin-wook and directed by Jung Ku-ho, will be presented by the dance troupe from June 24 to 27 to express the traditional music genre through dance in addition to introduction of LED panels and holograms.

The three troupes are also working together for the first time in nine years with "The Fame of Apres Girl" (a working title) which explores the life of Park Nam-ok, the first female film director in Korea.

"I think Korean society is heading in the right directoin in terms of evaluating women's position after the #MeToo movement. In that sense, I thought it is appropriate to deal with film director Park," said Kim Kwang-bo.

The Korea National Opera, the Korean National Ballet and the National Theater Company of Korea will also present their repertoires at the renewed theater to mark the 70th anniversary.

Two overseas art troupes are planning to take the stage at the theater next year despite the pandemic. "Sopro," directed and written by Tiago Rodriques, will delve into the meaning of occupation, in the sense of one's work, and "Tao Dance Theater 4&9" by the Chinese dance theater will present contemporary dance. However, performances are subject to cancellation in accordance with the COVID-19 situation.

The NTOK will also establish guidelines in terms of protecting artists' rights as it has become more common to release videos of performances to prevent COVID-19 infections among live audiences.

"We learned there is no Korean law on intellectual property for videos of performances," Kim said. "We are assessing the details of contracts and fees of performances for digital performances... We already formed two consultative committees on visualization of performance so that we can protect the rights of artists and co-exist in the performing arts scene."

Package tickets are on sale through the NTOK's website, and individual tickets are also available online and offline. Visit ntok.go.kr or call (02) 2280-4114 for more information.

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