World Masterpieces to enrich theater festival

By Chung Ah-young

Must-see theatrical masterpieces of a lifetime are coming to Korea. A total of 30 pieces — one each from eight countries as well as 22 Korean productions — will be on stage at the 5th World Festival of National Theaters from Aug. 31 to Oct. 30.

Since 2007, the festival has been a major event organized by the National Theater of Korea, to expand cultural exchanges with other countries.

“Through this festival, we have invited prestigious world national theaters to Korea and sent Korean traditional troupes to other countries as part of cultural exchanges. The festival will accelerate the globalization of Korean stage art,” Lim Youn-churl, president of the theater, said during a press conference Tuesday.

Among this year’s overseas performances, Comedie Francaise’s “The Imaginary Invalid” and the National Theatre of Prague’s “The Makropulos Case” are not to be missed.

“The Imaginary Invalid” written by legendary French playwright Moliere will return to Korea 23 years after it was first performed here to celebrate the Seoul Olympic Games in 1988. Premiered in 1673, the play has been a time-honored classic satirizing French society. The theater boasts a more than 400-year history of having put Moliere’s works on stage. The play will be performed from Oct. 14 to 16 at the theater’s Main Hall Hae.

“The French theater’s tour to Korea is very rare. So if we miss the piece, we might not be able to see the show again in our lifetime,” said Lim.

“The Makropulos Case” written by Czech playwright Karel Capek will be directed by world-renowned director Robert Wilson and star Czech actress Sona Cervena from Sept. 30 to Oct. 1 at the Main Hall Hae, with more of an emphasis on its visual aspects.

China’s Liaoning Ballet’s “The Last Emperor” will be transformed into a modern ballet blending Eastern and Western cultural elements on Sept. 20 and 21 at the Main Hall Hae.

“Harmony in Corea,” a Korean-Spanish friendship concert, will be performed on Aug. 31 at the Main Hall Hae while India’s Rage Theatre’s “Pune Highway,” a comic thriller revolving around three friends’ friendship, betrayal and distrust, will be staged on Sept. 9 and 10 at the Small Hall Dal.

The “Never Ending Story” presented by Bulgaria’s Folk Dance Ensemble SOFIA6 will offer rich folk rhythms and dance sequences on Sept. 23 and 24 at the KB Haneul Youth Theater while Belgium’s Le Theatre de la Place will show “Pagina Bianca” on Oct. 21 and 22 at the Small Hall Dal.

Among the local performances, “Mr. Rabbit and the Dragon King” (Suggunga), a “pansori” (Korean narrative song) opera, is a distinguished project for this year to be staged as the opening performance from Sept. 8 to 11 at the Main Hall Hae. The famous German stage director Achim Freyer is taking part in the production.

“I want to turn this Korean traditional opera into an epic drama. It will be a totally new work as this 77-year-old director meets Korea’s 5,000-year history in this traditional opera,” Freyer said. “I am not sure what kind of music will be made and what kind of work will be created but we’re trying something new. As a pupil of Brecht, I promise I will show the best work ever,” he said.

Yoo Yeong-dae, artistic director of the National Changgeuk Company of Korea, said that “Mr. Rabbit and the Dragon King” will be the first Korean traditional opera to be staged overseas in December in Germany. “This traditional opera will be truly globalized under the directorship of Achim Freyer. The piece includes Eastern traditional philosophy about nature and utopia mixing with the darkness of reality. But it will never forget humor and satire,” said Yoo.

“Part of Nature” presented by the National Orchestra of Korea will be a concerto mixing Western and Eastern music on Oct. 6 and 7 at the Mail Hall Hae. The concerto will consist of six themes — birth, breath, heart, hands, name and spirit.

As the closing performance, “Kim Hongdo, the Wizard of Art” will take to the stage from Oct. 25 to 29 at the Main Hall Hae. Inspired by the paintings drawn by Joseon artist Kim Hong-do, various stories are expressed on stage through Korean traditional dance, songs and drama.

Starting in 2007, the annual festival takes place from September to October every year, and promotes the mutualcultural exchanges among countries while Korean audiences can enjoy world-class domestic and overseas performances. Diverse genres of stage art representing national theaters of every nation on stage have been introduced along with additional events including shows and exhibitions.