Expat theater grows through friendly competition

By Kim Young-jin

One group had been literally locked inside a theater since morning, tasked to write and produce four short plays in a single day. Not far away, another sipped wine in a chic bar, launching their popular company under a new name.

But with two Saturday events ­ Probationary Theatre Company (PTC)’s performance of the fast-produced plays and the launch of the Seoul Shakespeare Company (SSC) ­ starting at the same time, would there be a conflict in the expat theater community?

Not even close.

Organizers say the competition ­and cooperation that has sprung up among the handful of English-language theater groups here is fueling better art.

“We communicate and help each other,” said Lindsey Higgins, artistic director of SSC at the Berlin Cafe in Itaewon. “The sense of friendly competition is inspiring.”

The event marked the debut of the troupe under its new name after being known since its inception in 2009 as Actors Without Bard’ers.

She said she had spoken with Desiree Munro, creative director of PTC, about the fact that both events had been scheduled for the same time, and the two decided it was a good thing.

“With so much going on nowadays, it’s hard not to clash,” Higgins, an American, said. “But we realize we have a real opportunity to create.”

Over at the White Box Theatre near Hyochang Park Station, as her company prepared to stage its “Play in a Day” production, Munro agreed.

“It’s an incestuous community,” said Munro, an Australian, noting that actors often jump from one company to another to fulfill their craving for the stage. “There’s no hard feeling.”

Seoul’s verve for theater was on full display in the PTC show, which boasted a large, enthusiastic crowd.

Those who showed up were treated to four performances that came out of the day of intense writing and rehearsing. The idea behind format was to bring actors together to build community and create unencumbered art.

The performances were comical and edgy. In “Wrath,” an unhappy husband hired a transvestite hit man only to have the assassin return for him. In “Envy,” an overwrought single father tried to work out abandonment issues with his two children.

Both groups have a full slate lined up, with SSC working on a full production of Macbeth as well as a special Halloween event and PTC is finalizing the details of its 2012 season, which will include a production of American drama “Dusk Rings a Bell” in October.

The fast-growing scene is of benefit not only for audiences, who often express surprise by the performances, but the actors as well.

“It’s a wonderful way to find community for people who people who don’t have family here,” said Jessica Adel, a longtime thespian in Canada and a professor here. “It’s like a ready-made family.”