By Chung Ah-young
A Korean production of William Shakespeare’s romantic comedy “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” will go on stage at the Globe Theater in London in April next year.
Cor Cordium, the promotion agency of Yohangza Company, said that the Korean adaptation of the play will be performed at London’s prestigious theater as a representative Korean Shakespearean work but the exact date has not been decided.
Following in Shakespeare words, “All the world’s a stage,” 38 troupes, including Yohangza, from around the globe will stage Shakespeare’s works in different languages during a theater season to celebrate the London 2012 Olympics. The special program will take place for six weeks beginning next year on April 23, the playwright’s birthday as part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad to mark the Summer Games.
The Globe was a theater associated with Shakespeare and built in 1599 but destroyed by fire in 1613 and rebuilt in 1614 operating until 1642 when it closed. The modern theater was reconstructed and reopened in 1997.
“It is very meaningful for the company in that the Globe Theatre is home to Shakespeare’s spirit and so it is the biggest opportunity for the company,” the agency said.
The Korean rendition of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” was first staged in 2002 in Korea and has toured some 20 countries around the world receiving rave reviews for its original and creative reinterpretation.
Prominent director Yang Jung-ung adapted the play, blending it with Korean mythical folklore and dynamic theatrical elements such as acrobatic gestures, dance, voice, and percussion.
Yang imbued Shakespeare’s text with traditional Korean factors such as oriental make-up and costumes, percussive tribal music and choreography and imaginative twists. He turned the magic of the Midsummer fairies into “dokkebi,” or Korean goblins.
Amid a big festival for Korean goblins who love dancing and singing, Hang falls in love with Byock but her father forces her to marry Rue. Hang and Byock decide to run away and secretly get married. Byock accidentally tells the secret to her best friend Eeck who is in love with Rue. Eeck informs Rue secret hoping that he will give up his love for Byock.
The Korean production took to the stage at the Barbican Center in London in 2006 for the first time, and thrilled audiences at the Sydney Festival as well as the Hong Kong Arts Festival.
Established in 1997 by Yang, Yohangza is renowned for an exciting mix of the past and present through reworking pieces with Korean elements, spirit and style.
The company won major awards for Best Production at the Cairo International Festival of Experimental Theatre in September 2003 on top of numerous local awards. Its unique presentation appeals to both Korean and international audiences.