Gyeonggi Arts Center "Starting a Repertoire That Will Attract Seoul Audiences Too"

Repertoire Season Begins After 30 Years of Opening... 31 Works and 125 Performances Centered on 4 Art Groups
President Lee Woo-jong: "Establishing Identity as a Production Theater... Prioritizing Budget Allocation to Affiliated Art Groups"

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] "We will create high-quality planned performances to establish our identity as a production theater and attract audiences from Seoul."

Opened in 1991 as the Gyeonggi-do Culture and Arts Center, the Gyeonggi Arts Center, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, is undergoing a major transformation by significantly increasing its planned performances. As the first step in announcing this transformation, the center is launching its first-ever repertory season since its establishment. Centered around the Gyeonggi Provincial Theater Company, Gyeonggi Provincial Dance Company, Gyeonggi Provincial Gugak Orchestra, and Gyeonggi Philharmonic Orchestra, a total of 31 productions and 125 performances will be presented this year.

Lee Woo-jong, president of the Gyeonggi Arts Center (pictured), recently held a press conference at The Plaza Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul. At the event, Lee stated that the budget was prioritized for the four resident companies to ensure high-quality planned performances. He said, "I believe that a genuine enhancement of artistic quality contributes to the promotion of public interest," and added, "We have reset the direction of the Gyeonggi Arts Center this year and allocated the budget to the four arts organizations as a top priority." In particular, the budget for planned performances was increased by 50%.

The funding for the Gyeonggi Arts Center comes from contributions from 31 cities and counties within Gyeonggi Province and its own revenue generated through performances. Lee expressed his desire to increase self-generated income through quality performances.

"There are over 3 million people in Suwon City, where the center is located, as well as in nearby Hwaseong and Yongin cities. This population is comparable to that of the capital of many countries. Moreover, there is a large number of white-collar workers in their 30s and 40s with purchasing power for performances. The center has often failed to meet the demands of these target audiences. We want to create works that respond to their needs. We will establish a support system so that the artistic directors of the four arts organizations can produce many excellent works."

Lee Woo-jong, President of Gyeonggi Arts Center
Photo by Gyeonggi Arts Center

Last November, the Gyeonggi Arts Center announced changes by appointing Han Tae-sook, representative of Theater Company Mulli, and Won Il, former artistic director of the National Gugak Orchestra, as new artistic directors of the Gyeonggi Provincial Theater Company and Gyeonggi Provincial Gugak Orchestra, respectively. Han Tae-sook and Won Il are figures who have attracted attention in the theater and gugak (traditional Korean music) scenes with their extraordinary works. This was a bold choice for the Gyeonggi Arts Center, which relies on stable operations supported by the cities and counties within Gyeonggi Province.

Lee Woo-jong expressed his expectations, saying, "I think the brand power of these two directors alone can attract audiences from Seoul." Director Han Tae-sook said, "President Lee Woo-jong offered me the freedom to stage any performance I want, which is why I accepted the position of artistic director of the Gyeonggi Provincial Theater Company," adding, "I believe this means they guarantee good production conditions and artistic autonomy." He also mentioned, "I think I will be able to realize works I have long held in my heart."

Lee Woo-jong also expressed his desire to create a representative work that showcases the identity of Gyeonggi Province, reflecting its history and humanities. He especially hopes to produce a comprehensive Gyeonggi-style total art work created through the collaboration of all four organizations.

Lee said, "As an arts institution representing Gyeonggi Province, we will strive to realize artistic influence befitting the status of Gyeonggi. I hope that the launch of the 2020 repertory season will serve as an opportunity to expand the scope of the Gyeonggi Arts Center and the Korean performing arts scene."

The four affiliated arts organizations will present repertory season performances divided into a spring season from February to July and a fall season from September to December.

The Gyeonggi Provincial Theater Company will present four productions, starting with 'Bravo, Director Um' (March 5?15 at Gyeonggi Arts Center), which critiques structural contradictions and violence in society. 'Bravo, Director Um' involves director Park Geun-hyung of Theater Alley and contains criticism and satire on sexual violence issues. Artistic director Han Tae-sook will direct 'Buried Child' (May 21?31 at Gyeonggi Arts Center), based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning play by famous American actor and playwright Sam Shepard. In September, a special performance of 'Onegin' (September 10?20 at Gyeonggi Arts Center) will be staged to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Korea-Russia diplomatic relations. The poetic novel by Russian literary giant Alexander Pushkin will be brought to the stage by Konstantin Bogomolov, a recipient of Russia's prestigious Golden Mask Award.

The Gyeonggi Provincial Dance Company will perform five works, including the dance musical 'Ryul律' (March 25?28 at Gyeonggi Arts Center, April 18 at Seongnam Arts Center), which is completed by adding a script to traditional Korean dance. Notably, from May 21 to 24, a special production of another 'Onegin' directed by Russian emerging director Sergey Zemlyansky will be presented at the Gyeonggi Arts Center.

The Gyeonggi Provincial Gugak Orchestra will perform six works, starting with 'New, Sinawi' (March 12?13 at Gyeonggi Arts Center). Artistic director Won Il said, "We aim to newly define Sinawi as the essence of Korean music's spirit," adding, "Through the identity of the Sinawi Orchestra, we will create a Korean orchestra representing the new era."

The Gyeonggi Philharmonic Orchestra will introduce a new 'Anthology' series, meaning a prestigious collection, and present a total of nine performances including the Anthology series.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.