Seoul Metropolitan Theatre switches to 'guerilla' tactics to survive COVID-19

Moon Sam-hwa, artistic director of the Seoul Metropolitan Theatre, speaks during a press conference held to announce this year's lineups of the theatrical art troupe under the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, at the art complex in Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap

By Park Ji-won

The Seoul Metropolitan Theatre, a theatrical art troupe under the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, has announced its seasonal lineup which focus on “guerilla” performances outside the art complex based on works written in the 20th century.

“We are thinking of performing outside the theater. It is an answer to the question: 'How can a play survive the pandemic?” We didn't want to replace our work with filmed pieces. So we are trying to make a small play like guerillas,” Moon Sam-hwa, artistic director of the Seoul Metropolitan Theatre said Wednesday during a press conference held to announce this year's lineup for the art troupe. She assumed the position in June last year replacing Kim Kwang-bo.

“The cost of filming had increased and we were thinking of performing a play for film only. But the key the play is for it to be held offline with an audiences. But the number of seats needs to be downsized, so we are thinking of performing more often.”

Actors and actresses read through “The Just” originally written by French writer Albert Camus during a press conference held to announce this year's lineup of the theatrical art troupe under the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, at the art complex in Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap

Out of six performances, the art troupe is planning to present some of them such as “Dreaming Pop” which will be held between September and November near the theater and middle or high schools as part of its move to introduce the concept of immersive theater. Immersive theater introduces audiences into the performance and is organized in unconventional locations.

In addition to holding shows outside the theater, it is planning to adopt classic pieces from the 20th century and add some modern twists to differentiate them from other theaters which focus on contemporary works written in the 21st century.

“It is worth doing to present well-written plays. But those works can be seen in other theaters like the National Theater Company of Korea. As we can only present a small number of works this year, we are thinking of showing audiences something new.”

The theater is set to perform “The Just” by French writer Albert Camus from April 23 to May 9 as its first play this year. Directed by Moon, author Kim Min-jung rewrote the piece so that it could include new roles and scenes such as Korean independent activist An Jung-geun and Gwanghuamun Square a public space often used for large street protests in central Seoul.

“1,000 cities,” (tentative title) directed by Park Hae-sung will be a documentary-like play which will be held Sept. 3 to 19, depicting various images of Seoul by Seoul residents.