Geochang International Theater Festival, Grand Opening of Suseungdae Underwater Special Stage

Official Participation of 56 Organizations Including 8 Overseas Countries
Total of 75 Performances Including Main and Fringe Shows

Susungdae Underwater Special Stage Opening Ceremony Performance

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Soon-kyung] The 32nd Geochang International Theater Festival, the largest outdoor theater festival in Korea, opened its curtain of passion on the 22nd with the opening performance "Geochang A Midsummer Night's Dream."

The Geochang International Theater Festival held its opening ceremony at the Susungdae special stage, starting with a pungmul street parade pre-performance by the Geochang traditional arts performance group. The ceremony was attended by about 3,000 people, including Gu In-mo, County Governor, Park Sang-won, Chairman of the Organizing Committee, Kim Tae-ho, Member of the National Assembly, Park Seong-jae, Director of Culture, Tourism and Sports of Gyeongnam Province, Kim Jae-woong, Chairman of the Culture and Welfare Committee of the Gyeongnam Provincial Council and council members, Lee Hong-hee, Chairman of the Geochang County Council and county council members, as well as guests, heads of cultural and artistic organizations, theater professionals, and spectators.

The opening performance "Geochang A Midsummer Night's Dream," held on the Susungdae underwater special stage, decorated the hot summer night with a variety of performances, shows, and spectacular fireworks drones.

This opening performance is a specially produced show marking the new beginning of the Geochang International Theater Festival, held again after four years, conveying the message of overcoming the difficulties of COVID-19 and everyday life and moving toward a new and better world.

Additionally, local residents and regional artists participated in the opening performance, which was composed of works from the festival participants, expressing situations of conflict and division and ultimately recovering and returning to a happy daily life.

Under the theme "BEGIN AGAIN: Another World, Dreaming Passion," the 32nd Geochang International Theater Festival embraces various genres of performing arts such as theater, musicals, music performances, street theater, children's plays, operettas, and dance dramas within the natural setting of Susungdae, capturing the romance and atmosphere of a midsummer night and the true passion of the festival, presenting a diverse array of works to the audience.

The 32nd Geochang International Theater Festival features 56 groups, including those from eight overseas countries, with a total of 75 performances including official and fringe shows.

Among the officially selected groups, Theater Alleyway, which insists on traditional theater and continues to deliver high-quality performances with "Liberation of Seoul," Theater Choin's musical "Macbeth," and Theater Teo's "Taking the Last Train, Beyond the Sunset" will be great gifts to audiences thirsty for quality theatrical works.

Also, the "Dongmudongrak" performance by the Seoul City Dance Company, selected in 2022 as part of the cultural exchange project between local governments, and the "I Heard It This Way" performance by Theater Hyunjang, which won the grand prize at the 2022 Gyeongsangnam-do Theater Festival, are among the must-see performances.

In addition to the performances by 56 domestic and international art groups, various side events and experiential activities are prepared to delight the eyes and ears of the audience throughout the festival period.

This theater festival is held as a comprehensive performing arts festival. Among the participating overseas performance teams, Daniel Irizarry, an American film director, actor, and educator, will perform at Susungdae's Guyeon Seowon.

His work, described as challenging, captivating, intensely physical, and excitingly unpredictable, will provide audiences with a unique experience.

At the Geochang Cultural Center's Sangsalmi Hall, seven theatrical works will be performed free of charge, offering an opportunity to enjoy traditional theater.

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