Performing Arts Galore in Fall
Immerse in 2nd Fest of National Theaters Indulge in 8th Seoul Performing Arts Fest
By Chung Ah-young
Staff Reporter
Summertime scorching heat is giving way to cool and gentle breezes, welcoming the onset of fall. This autumn, a series of world-renowned performances will greet theatergoers and foreign tourists in Seoul at the beginning of the season.
The major performing arts festivals will offer rare chances to fans with more diverse and quality works than ever.
The 2nd World Festival of National Theaters
National theaters from eight countries ― Korea, Germany, Russia, Thailand, France, Moldova, Norway and China ― will present 18 performances from Sept. 5 to Oct. 30.
It is a rare opportunity to see large-scale world masterpieces. Last year's festival attracted 30,000 people over a month, gaining a strong foothold among local performing arts festivals.
This year, among others, ``Raise the Red Lantern,'' a ballet production based on the award-winning 1991 Chinese-Taiwanese film directed by Zhang Yimou, who also took the helm in directing the opening ceremony in 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, will entrance fans.
The Chinese ballet, which will be staged Oct. 29-30, was adapted by the National Ballet of China from the film version, which combines the elements of Beijing operas and shadow plays.
Russia's State Academic Maly Theatre will present ``Three Sisters'' written by 19th century Russian playwright Anton Chekhov from Sept. 25 to 27.
The play, which deals with the collapse of the Russian aristocracy and the search for the meaning of life in the modern world, will be directed by Russia's renowned actor and director Yuri Solomin. The work portrays the life and dreams of a family of three sisters and a brother.
``Peer Gynt,'' which is regularly performed during Norway's famous ``Peer Gynt Festival,'' is also one of the shows not to be missed. The play was written by world-famous Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen in 1867. Directed by Svein Sturla Hungnes, it will be staged from Oct. 24-26. The Peer Gynt Festival of Norway has featured the performance as the main headliner for 20 years. The performance has traditionally taken place on open stages but this time will be staged indoors.
The National Theater of Korea will also present pieces by its four resident companies ― ``Terrorist Hamlet'' by the National Drama Company of Korea, ``Cheong'' by the National Changgeuk (a unique style of Korean traditional opera) Company of Korea, ``The Scent of Spring'' by the National Dance Company of Korea and ``Four Rivers Flowing to The Sea'' by the National Orchestra of Korea.
``Four Rivers Flowing to The Sea'' combines four traditional orchestral musical pieces representing the different spiritual worlds of Korea ― Christianity, Buddhism, Taoism and shamanism. The traditional orchestra music has been invited to a Korean festival to be held in Brussels in November.
``Cheong'' by the National Changgeuk Company of Korea will take to the stage in Norway and the United States next year.
The festival provides English subtitles for all performances. Tickets range from 20,000 won to 70,000 won.
For more information, call (02) 2280-4115-6.
The 8th Seoul Performing Arts Festival
The Seoul Performing Arts Festival will offer 38 works by 39 troupes from 13 countries. The festival is known as one of the biggest performing arts festivals for its variety and quality combining the performing genres.
For this year, the festival features Anton Chekhov's works. Among 20 plays, four are Chekhov's works or about his family.
``Uncle Vanya'' by the Russian troupe, which will be staged on Oct. 3-5 at the Arko Arts Theater Main Hall, is one of four major plays by Chekhov. The play will be directed by Mindaugas Karbauskis.
``Spying on a Woman Who Kills Herself'' by the Argentine troupe will be staged on Sept. 26-28 at the Arko Arts Theater Small Hall. It is often dubbed the essence of Argentinean drama from the 90s, which was reinterpreted from ``Uncle Vanya.'' It deals with the most fundamental themes in human survival.
Among dances, ``Mmm…'' by the U.K. troupe, which will be staged Sept. 28-29 at Arko Arts Theater Main Hall, presents sophisticated and sensual contemporary dance. The icon of British contemporary dance, Michael Clark, will present the tripartite Stravinsky Project with Igor Stravinsky's music as the motif behind the work. The three-year-old project lasting from 2005-2008 is a joint production between the Barbican Center and Michael Clark Company.
The second of the three pieces of the Stravinsky Project, 'Mmm…' was created in 1992 and reworked in 2006 to be premiered at the Barbican Center. The new 'Mmm…' released in 2006 has seen the number of dancers increased to twelve. After Stravinsky's piece was rewritten for piano, the piece has been played on the stage. Michael Clark's works vividly express the themes of life and death, birth and regeneration, in their harsh reality.
Also, Korean performances such as ``The Cherry Orchard'' by Theater Soo, which will be staged on Sept. 18-Oct. 12 and ``Electra'' by Korea and Japan on Oct. 10-11, will be presented during the festival.
``Bystreet of Joseon: Story of Lee Ok,'' presented by the Korean theater troupe, will be performed at the old Seoul Station on Sept. 18-19. The play is based on a novel written by Lee Ok, during the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910). The novel is composed of three stories that deal with the misuse of power: the story of Lee Hong, the story of Ryu Gwang-eok, and the story of Jang Bok-sun. Lee Ok wanted to criticize the cowardly and sordid actions of those in power and the same sort of corruption that continues to this day.
``Strangeland: The Dispossessed'' jointly presented by the Korean and Australian troupes will go on stage at Seoul Arts Center Jayu Theater on Sept. 18-19.
The Melbourne-based international art group NYID developed the play in an earlier work in 2006. The performance in Seoul will be rendered anew by the Korean and Australian artists. Unlike media-based works performed by NYID in the past, this piece concentrates on building up communication with the audience using the bodies of the performers.
The Korean theater group Momggol will present ``Don Quixote-Human Enthusiasm'' at the old Seoul Station on Sept. 21-23.
``Don Quixote'' is premiering at this year's festival. The new performance approaches life as being identical to the arts and focuses on the chaos between the ideal and reality faced by Don Quixote as he charges toward his ideal. The matter of dying, possibly the most dreadful of all things facing humans, is also addressed through ``The Death of Alonso Quixano.'' The theater company has become known for its series of experimental creations such as ``Orpheus,'' ``The Rickshaw Turns Upside Down,'' and ``Ku-do.''
The Ahn Ae-soon Dance Company will also present ``Galapagos'' on Sept. 28-29 at the Seoul Arts Center Towol Theater. The dance company works towards communication with the audience through collaboration with artists involving music, images, and installation art as well as dance.
The performance seeks to portray human beings who are left at the mercy of the natural elements and yet adapt as best as they can to their environment in order to survive.