Kim Cheol-ho, Director of the National Theater, "Promoting Performance Video Projects in the Non-Face-to-Face Era"

20-21 Repertory Season with a Total of 49 Performances... Weekday Shows Changed to 7:30 PM
Performance Video Advisory Committee Formed to Protect Artists' Rights... Haeoreum Theater to Reopen in April Next Year

Kim Cheol-ho, Director of the National Theater
[Photo by National Theater]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] The National Theater of Korea will actively promote the performance video production project starting from the 2020-2021 repertory season beginning next month. Weekday performance times will be changed to 7:30 PM, 30 minutes earlier than before. These changes were chosen by the National Theater, which is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year, to actively accommodate the changing times and audience demands.

Kim Cheol-ho, director of the National Theater, stated at a press conference announcing the 2020-2021 repertory season held on the 24th at the Daloreum Theater of the National Theater, "Due to the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), demand for non-face-to-face performances is increasing," and added, "From this season, we will actively promote the performance video production project."

As the COVID-19 situation worsened, the National Theater began streaming works filmed since 2017 online starting in March under a new program called "The Closest National Theater." At that time, in the unprecedented difficult situation caused by the spread of COVID-19, performance videos were presented with the understanding of artists. Going forward, the video production project will be promoted with improvements in institutional aspects such as protecting artists' rights.

Director Kim said, "To protect the rights of private artists and promote coexistence with the performing arts community, we have formed a Performance Video Production Advisory Committee," and added, "We will also establish new model regulations regarding copyright protection and take a leading role in protecting the rights of performing artists." The advisory committee is divided into two subcommittees responsible for video production/distribution and copyright/contracts.

For the 2020-2021 repertory season, the National Theater will present a total of 49 works until June 30 next year, including 23 new works, 7 repertory pieces, 14 regular performances, and 5 co-hosted performances, starting with the opening work "Daseot O" by the National Dance Company. "Daseot O," which will be performed at the Daloreum Theater from September 17 to 20, is the first work presented by Son In-young, the artistic director of the National Dance Company since her appointment.

The National Theater plans to reopen the Haeoreum Theater in April next year after remodeling. The Haeoreum Theater will welcome audiences again after three years.

Director Kim said, "The resident art companies are preparing high-quality new works that add depth to tradition and reflect contemporary spirit," and added, "The National Changgeuk Company will perform 'Gwito,' a large-scale new work based on Sugungga, the National Dance Company will perform 'Jeui,' and the National Gugak Orchestra will hold the 'Ieum Music Festival' to commemorate the reopening."

'Jeui' (April 1-3, 2021) is a work that encompasses the ritual dances of our nation. It carries the meaning of wishing a vigorous start for the newly reopened Haeoreum Theater. The 'Ieum Music Festival,' prepared mainly by the National Gugak Orchestra, is a creative music festival that interprets traditional music from a new and free perspective, combining various genres such as gugak (traditional Korean music), classical music, and installation art. It will be held from April 7 to 14 next year at the Haeoreum and Daloreum Theaters. The production team of 'Byeonggangsoe Jeom Jikko Ongnyeo,' a representative repertory work of the National Changgeuk Company (script and direction by Go Seon-ung, co-creators Yoo Su-jeong and Han Seung-seok), will perform the new work 'Gwito' at the Haeoreum Theater from June 2 to 6 next year.

Son In-yeong, Artistic Director of the National Dance Company, Director Jung Gu-ho, Director Kim Kwang-bo, Kim Cheol-ho, Director of the National Theater, Yoo Soo-jung, Artistic Director of the National Changgeuk Company, Music Director Han Seung-seok, Lim Joon-hee, Chairperson of the Advisory Committee for the 'Eum Music Festival,' Kim Sung-jin, Artistic Director of the National Gugak Orchestra (from left), are taking a commemorative photo after the press conference announcing the National Theater 2020-2021 repertoire season at the Daloreum Theater of the National Theater on the 24th.
Photo by National Theater

The National Opera Company, National Ballet Company, and National Theater Company will also present performances on the National Theater stage to celebrate its 70th anniversary. The National Opera Company will perform the postponed original opera 'Red Pants' on August 28-29, the National Ballet Company will present the 'Best Collection' stage on September 25-26, and the National Theater Company will perform the play 'Mansun,' which was canceled due to COVID-19, at the Daloreum Theater from May 14 to 29 next year. The National Opera Company and National Ballet Company will also present special performances in May next year to celebrate the reopening of the Haeoreum Theater.

The National Theater will also hold a new year-end planned performance titled 'Myeongsagi Apregirl' (tentative title, December 23, 2020 ? January 24, 2021) at the Daloreum Theater. This work is a collaboration between director Go Seon-ung and writer Go Yeon-ok, who previously worked together on 'The Independence Army in Front of the Theater,' performed at the Sejong Center last year to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Shanghai Provisional Government.

Starting this season, the National Theater's weekday performance time will change from 8 PM to 7:30 PM. The National Theater explained that this change reflects public opinion to advance performance times due to the establishment of the 52-hour workweek system and changes in social awareness.

The National Theater announced that all performances held this year will implement seat spacing according to the social distancing measures set by health authorities. They also stated that strict quarantine procedures such as temperature checks and mandatory mask-wearing for venue visitors will be thoroughly observed.

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