Next season at the National Theater full of surprises

“The Scent of Ink” by the National Dance Company of Korea / Courtesy of NTOK

By Kwon Mee-yoo

Not many years ago, the National Theater of Korea (NTOK) faced an existential crisis. Nestled on Namsan in Seoul, the 66-year-old theater was criticized for being nearly useless as well as being affiliated with stagnant arts companies. However, the nation's flagship theater turned over a new leaf when it launched the annual repertory season five years ago, successfully developing its own productions combining traditional and contemporary culture.

Now the NTOK's yearly program is one of the most anticipated theatrical programs in Korea and the lineup of the National Repertory Season 2016-2017 announced last week lived up to expectations.

Adventures of changgeuk

The 2016-2017 season will open with the National Changgeuk Company of Korea (NCCK)'s "L'Orfeo" on Sept. 23 to 28. Directed by Lee So-young, who also helmed the highly acclaimed changgeuk "Song of the Red Cliff" last year, the newly commissioned work will adapt one of the earliest operas into changgeuk, a traditional Korean musical form similar to opera. Lee, who mainly worked in opera, made her debut as a changgeuk director last year and will continue her experimentation in changgeuk, expanding the scope of the Korean art.

The NCCK will work with internationally renowned director Ong Keng Sen from Singapore on "Trojan Women" from Nov. 11 to 20. Korean writer Bae Sam-sik will adapt the Euripides' play for changgeuk and Intangible Cultural Asset Ahn Sook-sun will perform pansori, along with composer Jung Jae-il’s music.

"It is bringing tradition into the future," the Singaporean director commented on the project.

On April 5 to 16, the NCCK will reinterpret traditional pansori story “Heungbu-ga,” which revolves around the tale of two brothers, with director Koh Sun-woong, behind the success of the changgeuk “Madame Ong.”

The NCCK’s hit repertoires “Madame Ong” and “The Caucasian Chalk Circle” will return next year in April and June, respectively.

Rerun of hit performances

The National Dance Company of Korea (NDCK) had a very busy year, collaborating with international choreographers and travelling around the world representing their work.

This season, the NDCK will mainly give opportunities for those who missed their previous hits, except for a new work to be premiered in June.

Fashion designer Jung Gu-ho breathed new life into the company by directing "The Scent of Ink" (Oct. 6 to 8) and "The Banquet" (Feb. 7 to 11) with his minimal and formative aesthetics.

"Vortex," premiered in 2014 and invited to the Cannes Dance Festival in 2015, returns from March 30 to April 1. Choreographed by Finnish choreographer Tero Saarinen, the dance creates a powerful image of how the past resonates with the present.

Korean music galore

The National Orchestra of Korea (NOK) will bear fruit of its first-ever resident composer program on Oct. 29. Two NOK resident composers Kim Seong-guk and Chung Il-ryun will offer the product of their time working with the NOK, adding fresh twists to orchestral works in Korean music.

The NOK will pay tribute to six legendary composers of Korean music in the “2016 Masterpiece” concert on Nov. 25 and experiment with a collaboration between Korean traditional and Western music in “2017 Recompose” concert on March 24 to 25.

Package tickets are available for avid theatergoers who want to see more than three performances from the season program. For more information, visit www.ntok.go.kr or call 02-2280-4114.