Play Starring Actor with Brain Lesion Disability, 'Teenage Dick,' to Perform Next Month

November 17-20, National Theater Play 'Teenage Dick'
Shakespeare's 'Richard III' Reborn as a Story of a High School Student with Cerebral Palsy

Actors Ha Ji-seong and Jo Woo-ri, who have cerebral palsy, playing the roles of Richard Gloucester and his friend Barbara Buck Buckingham in the National Theater play Teenage Dick. Photo by National Theater

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] The play "Teenage Dick," adapted from Shakespeare's tragedy "Richard III" into a story about a high school student with cerebral palsy, will have its domestic premiere at the National Theater of Korea.

The National Theater announced on the 25th that "Teenage Dick" will be performed at the Daloreum Theater from the 17th to the 20th of next month. This work is a representative piece by American playwright Mike Lew and has received critical acclaim since its premiere in the United States in 2018.

"Teenage Dick," which takes the framework of characters and plot from "Richard III," reimagines the story of a man's evil deeds and downfall driven by inferiority stemming from physical deformity, transforming it into a contemporary tale set in a modern American high school that resonates with today's audience.

The story centers on Richard, a brilliant strategist and ambitious individual who, despite being bullied by friends due to his disability, seeks revenge by aiming to become the next student council president. Over nine scenes, the play unfolds Richard's conspiracies and conflicts, including his use of his own weaknesses, unexpected chaos, and moments of choice.

The play captivates audiences and critics alike by breaking away from the typical narratives of overcoming and healing often seen in works about marginalized characters, portraying people with disabilities as vivid, three-dimensional humans rather than flat characters.

Through Richard, who openly expresses his desires, and the people around him, the play challenges our prejudices against people with disabilities and questions societal attitudes and perceptions about encountering and accepting 'difference.' As Richard says, "You judged who I was before I even had a chance to choose. You already knew I wasn’t a hero the moment I rolled in on my wheelchair," prompting reflection on the barriers of prejudice everyone harbors within.

Teenage Dick_Poster. Photo by National Theater

Director Shin Jaehoon said, "Struggling for desire is human nature, but I want to explore what kind of misfortune distorted desires, shaped by external views and stereotypes, can bring."

The lead role of 'Richard Gloucester' and his friend 'Barbara Buck Buckingham' are played by cerebral palsy actors Ha Ji-sung and Jo Woo-ri, respectively, drawing attention.

Performing in wheelchairs, the two actors incorporate the physical habits arising from their disabilities into their acting, presenting characters imbued with their own unique rhythm and movements that only actors with disabilities can showcase.

"Teenage Dick" will be presented as an accessible performance. Closed audio descriptions will be provided via FM receivers for visually impaired audiences along with subtitles. One-on-one sign language interpreters will be assigned to each role to deliver lines in real time for hearing-impaired viewers. To enhance accessibility for disabled audiences, the National Theater’s website and YouTube channel will offer performance introduction and ticketing guide videos including sign language interpretation, audio description, and subtitles.

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