The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    Disgraced ex-minister's daughter says she feels proud, qualified as a doctor

  • 3

    Coupang reveals Asia's largest fulfillment center in Daegu

  • 5

    'Celebrity forests' emerge as new K-pop trend in Seoul

  • 7

    Tiger endures 3 years of solitary confinement in closed zoo

  • 9

    Netflix survival show 'Physical 100' attracts viewers with sweat, muscle and human story

  • 11

    Rescuers race against time as Turkey-Syria quake death toll passes 5,000

  • 13

    Ex-justice minister, daughter blamed for unrepentant attitude over academic fraud

  • 15

    SM founder Lee Soo-man returns home, in hospital to treat arm fracture

  • 17

    Seoul narrows in on new slogan

  • 19

    Korea to allow currency trading by offshore firms, extend market hours

  • 2

    Singer Lee Seung-gi to marry actor Lee Da-in in April

  • 4

    SM in internal feud over founder's exit from producing

  • 6

    Ex-gov't employee summarily indicted for alleged attempt to sell Jungkook's lost hat

  • 8

    Seoul city zeroes in on foreign residents' unpaid taxes

  • 10

    Korean Peninsula may face fallout from balloon saga

  • 12

    Peak Time: Survival show for lesser-known K-pop boy bands to hit air

  • 14

    INTERVIEW'Korea, US can create synergy in space industry': NASA ambassador

  • 16

    Apple confirms launch of Apple Pay in Korea

  • 18

    Chainsaw Fest set to rip apart Club SHARP

  • 20

    Korea opens metaverse platform for Korean-language learning

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Thu, February 9, 2023 | 08:42
Multicultural Community
Speech of Fire enriches Seoul's theater scene
Posted : 2019-10-15 14:05
Updated : 2019-10-15 20:52
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
A scene from 'Garage' / Courtesy of Robert Evans
A scene from "Garage" / Courtesy of Robert Evans

By Hallie Bradley

The newest theater company in town,
Speech of Fire, has launched this autumn under the leadership of co-artistic directors Lauren Ash-Morgan and Michael Downey. The duo's new company is an effort to create great performances while also connecting to the community in order to foster true human connections in this increasingly digital and isolating age.

"We chose the name Speech of Fire because it encapsulates what we are about," Downey said. "We intend the text of a play to be at the center of everything we do. And of course on stage text becomes speech...we are both text and speech/voice nerds… I guess we have had a focus on that in the last few years in
Seoul Shakespeare Company. We've been teaching text and voice both to our casts as part of our rehearsal process, and also to the wider public as workshops and classes.

The name comes from a quote by Laertes in "Hamlet," which shouldn't come as a surprise as both had been part of Seoul Shakespeare Company, which specializes in teaching and performing Shakespeare. Ash-Morgan had served as artistic director and producer, and Downey was a stage director and actor. Both had been with that company since its 2011 founding, and leading it for the last five years.

"We intend Speech of Fire to focus primarily on Shakespeare, but also new works and other classic plays and playwrights ― we'll see how it develops," Downey said.

Pushing ideas and artistic creation, their first performance is in collaboration with Seoul Shakespeare Company and showcases two critically acclaimed original plays performed in their repertory. Co-produced by the two companies and performed by their original playwrights, "The Orderly" and "Garage" can both be seen at
Studio SK in the Daehangno district of Seoul on Oct. 19 and 20.

"They are both intelligent, vibrant and absorbing works of contemporary theater," Downey said. "And what's more, they both feature performances by the original playwrights!"

"The Orderly," which is written and will be performed by Downey, is about a man named Peter who is an orderly during the week and a Vikings re-enactor on the weekends. Watch as Michael plays multiple characters on stage, including a gorgeous nurse, semi-nude Viking and of course the orderly in this heartfelt solo performance which is both comedic and moving. The hour-long play was first produced in New Zealand in 2006 and Michael is excited to bring it back to the stage.

"Garage" is a bit grittier and watches as English teacher David and his wife Susan return home to Arkansas for the funeral of David's estranged, alcoholic father. This three-person hour-long show which was first performed in New York City in 2010 is a fast-paced emotional crescendo to a dramatic finale. Don't miss writer and actor Jason Cutler along with Ash-Morgan and Jamie Horan on stage this weekend.

Ash-Morgan and Downey began to transition out of Seoul Shakespeare Company recently to develop a company that can ultimately "transcend the geographical area of Seoul to travel." Though the goal is to have a company that can move, Downey said, "We think that we will stay in Korea until roughly early 2021, so these two shows that we are doing as a co-production with Seoul Shakespeare are a nice way to transition into the new identity."

Speech of Fire also offers acting classes for actors of all experience levels, with the first autumn session starting on Oct. 23. The courses are taught in English and are open to adults and teens at least 16 years of age. The company will also stage small more intimate performances that can tour to various locations.


Emailjdunbar@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
Top 10 Stories
1Korean Peninsula may face fallout from balloon saga Korean Peninsula may face fallout from balloon saga
2Turkey-Syria earthquake Turkey-Syria earthquake
3Daughter-centered photos, title of honor reinforce speculation over North Korea succession Daughter-centered photos, title of honor reinforce speculation over North Korea succession
4[INTERVIEW] 'Growth slowdown can accelerate depletion of retirement pension fund' INTERVIEW'Growth slowdown can accelerate depletion of retirement pension fund'
5SM's management dispute to benefit KakaoSM's management dispute to benefit Kakao
6National Assembly votes to impeach interior minister for Itaewon tragedyNational Assembly votes to impeach interior minister for Itaewon tragedy
7SM6 Feel attracts customers with popular options, low price SM6 Feel attracts customers with popular options, low price
8Philip Morris seeks to surpass KT&G in e-cigarette market Philip Morris seeks to surpass KT&G in e-cigarette market
9[INTERVIEW] Veteran US photographer gives environment 'visual voice' to chronicle climate change INTERVIEWVeteran US photographer gives environment 'visual voice' to chronicle climate change
10Korean companies move to support victims in earthquake-hit Turkey, SyriaKorean companies move to support victims in earthquake-hit Turkey, Syria
Top 5 Entertainment News
1Decoding success factors of NewJeans: How is it different? Decoding success factors of NewJeans: How is it different?
2SM in internal feud over founder's exit from producing SM in internal feud over founder's exit from producing
3The Boyz member Hyunjae apologizes for wearing hat with Rising Sun flag design The Boyz member Hyunjae apologizes for wearing hat with Rising Sun flag design
4Peak Time: Survival show for lesser-known K-pop boy bands to hit air Peak Time: Survival show for lesser-known K-pop boy bands to hit air
5K-pop stars and dating K-pop stars and dating
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group