World Festival of National Theaters Kicks Off in Seoul

Every September and October for the past four years, the National Theater of Korea holds the World Festival of National Theaters, inviting representative performing art works from a number of countries. And this year's opening performance, 'Mr. Rabbit and the Dragon King', or 'Sugungga' in Korean kicked off the event on Thursday evening. This opera is gaining a lot of attention as it it's being directed by world-renowned German art director Achim Freyer, who is attempting to transform "pansori", Korea's traditional storytelling through song, into a new art form called "pansori opera".

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[Interview : Achim Freyer, Director
Mr. Rabbit and the Dragon King] "I was always interested in Asian traditional culture, so when I visited Korea last year, I had the opportunity to watch a traditional Korean opera 'Cheong'. It inspired me a great deal. I began to have an aspiration to direct a traditional Korean music opera and I wanted to share it with European audiences".

As a leading figure in abstract paintings, he also designs the costumes, the stage, and even does the lighting.

[Interview : Ahn Sook-sun, Veteran Member National Changguk Company of Korea] "Korean pansori has many ingredients that could be transformed into wonderful theater. With appropriate visual arts, I think it could deliver the essence of Korean culture to audiences across the world".

This performance is scheduled to be on stage in Germany in December.. and in other European countries next year.

[Reporter : Park Ji-won jiwnopark@arirang.co.kr] "Besides the highly anticipated opening performance of 'Mr. Rabbit and the Dragon King', about 30 works from nine different countries will also be presented on stage during the festival".

India's Rage Theatre is also taking part in the World Festival of National Theaters with its modern play, 'Pune Highway'.

[Interview : Rahul Da Cunha, Writer and director Pune Highway] "I'm very excited to be here in Seoul. Because this is the first time that I think an Indian play is performed at this festival. But I'm also very keen to see how this play, which is very Indian play, but a very modern Indian play performs in a city like Seoul".

France's national theater, 'La Comedie Francaise', is also back in Korea after 23 years with its comic play written by Moliere, 'The Imaginary Invalid'.

And China's Lianoing Ballet Company is set to perform its modern ballet, 'Last Emperor'.
Exhibitions, seminars, and art markets are also set to be held during the festival, aiming to further promote cultural exchanges among the world's performing arts sectors.

Park Ji-won, Arirang News.