A scene from Heiner Goebbels’ new musical drama, “I Went to the House, But Did Not Enter” / Courtesy of LG Arts Center

By Chung Ah-young

LG Arts Center has announced a line-up of four musical dramas, three Korean productions and one foreign show, as part of its CoMPAS (Contemporary Music and Performing Arts Season) beginning March 13 to Nov. 27.

To kick start the special series, Heiner Goebbels’ new musical drama, “I Went to the House, But Did Not Enter” will be staged on March 26 and 27. The Hilliard Ensemble, one of the finest vocal chamber groups in the world, will perform composer and theater director Goebbels’ recent production in German. The eccentric production by Goebbels is made up of three parts based on literary texts by T.S. Eliot, Maurice Blanchot and Samuel Beckett. After its world premiere at the 2008 Edinburgh International Festival and a world tour, the play is holding its Asian premiere in Korea.



“The Chorus: Oedipus” directed by Seo Jae-hyung will be on stage from April 26 to May 1. Following his successful drama “Tournament,” Seo is bringing to life this new work in collaboration with scriptwriter Han A-rum. It is a revamped format combining sound, movement and image, along with a chorus performance which will more fully dramatize the tragic scenes. Seo won the Young Artist Awards hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2009. For the current adaptation, he is also working with composer Choe Uzong.

Renowned “pansori” (Korean traditional narrative music) singer Lee Ja-ram will present “Ukchuk-ga” on June 14 and 15 and 17 to 19. Co-produced by LG Arts Center and Uijeongbu Arts Center, the show is inspired by Brecht’s “Mother Courage and Her Children,” which is set in Europe between 1618 and 1648. This show is set in China instead between 220 and 280 and revolves around a Joseon woman who moves there to start a new life for her children. Lee’s work focuses more on raw emotions of fear, sympathy, rage and sorrow in a satirical manner. Lee has gained a positive reputation after her first experiment with Brecht-inspired pansori “Sacheon-ga” and received the Best Actress Award at the International Theater Festival KONTAKT 2010 in Poland.

As the fall season rolls around, music theater group Baramgot will stage “Kokdu” from Oct. 20 to 22, using traditional Korean and other ethnic instruments. The work is inspired by “kokdu,” Korean wooden deities, which were used to adorn biers to safeguard the deceased from evil spirits. The mystical story of “Kokdu” combines melodies with theater and dance to escort the audience to an enchanting world of unique sounds and movement.