World's top national theaters to perform in S. Korea

By Shin Hae-in
SEOUL, Aug. 11 (Yonhap) -- The World Festival of National Theaters, a one of a
kind event organized by South Korea, will stage representative modern and
classical works from nine different countries, organizers of the annual event
said Tuesday.

This year's event, running from Sept. 5 through Oct. 30 at major theaters in
Seoul, including the National Theater of Korea, the main venue, will open with
"The Tempest," an adaption of the Shakespearean play by Contemporary Legend
Theatre of Taiwan and director Tsui Hark.
The festival will feature 24 prestigious theatrical performances from nine
countries -- South Korea, France, Russia, Belgium, Taiwan, Italy, the
Philippines, Brazil and Norway -- in the official and special programs. Korea
will present 12 works.
Official invitations include "La Cagnotte" from France, "Holeulone" by Belgian
dance group Dame de Pic led by Karine Ponties, "Esmeralda" by Russia's Kremlin
Ballet Theatre as well as Korea's adaptation of "The Red Cliff" and "The Three
Sisters."
The National Theater of Korea, the first of its kind in Asia when it was
established in 1950, has been staging a wide variety of affordable performing
arts pieces to the public for over half a century.
Aiming for something broader, it hosted the first international festival in 2007
dedicated to stepping up cultural exchanges between the national theaters of
different countries and enhancing global recognition of domestic performances.
The National Drama Company of Korea, National Dance Company of Korea, National
Changgeuk Company of Korea and the National Orchestra of Korea -- all affiliated
with the National Theater of Korea -- will participate in the event with
representative repertoires.
The festival focuses on bringing already well-known productions that are
universally popular, rather than focusing on inviting new and unconventional
performances, and provides English subtitles for all performances for broad
audience interest.
hayney@yna.co.kr
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