'Boundaryless Questions' Unfold on Stage... Seoul International Performing Arts Festival Opens on the 6th

From June 6 to 29 at National Theater and Arko Arts Theater
A total of 19 performances including plays, dance, and interactive shows

"We will capture the contemporary performing arts landscape and the values of the era by engaging with the explorations, reflections, and questions of artists who lead great discoveries." (Choi Seok-gyu, Artistic Director)

At the press conference for the 2023 Seoul International Performing Arts Festival held on the 5th at the Arko·Daehangno Arts Theater Theater Square in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Moon Young-ho, CEO of the Arts Management Support Center (from left), planner Ko Ju-young, choreographer Rashid Uramdan, Choi Seok-gyu, artistic director of the Seoul International Performing Arts Festival, and director Jeon In-cheol are taking a commemorative photo.
[Photo by Arts Management Support Center]

The Seoul Performing Arts Festival (SPAF), the largest and longest-running festival of its kind in Korea, opens on the 6th under the theme "Questions Without Boundaries." The festival runs until the 29th at venues including the National Theater of Korea's Haeoreum Theater, National Jeongdong Theater_Cecil, Arko Arts Theater and Daehakro Arts Theater, and Traveler's Theater.

Marking its 23rd edition this year, the festival presents a total of 19 works to audiences, featuring theater, dance, and immersive performances that break down boundaries between art and technology, nations and regions, and existing systems.

At a press conference held on the 5th, Artistic Director Choi Seok-gyu introduced the event, saying, "The program includes questions viewed from the perspective of diversity, questions about the structure of Korean society, questions about art and technology, the climate crisis, and questions that break down the boundaries of concepts and systems."

Opening film 'Extreme Body' performance photo. ? Pascale Cholette [Photo courtesy of Arts Management Support Center]

Rashid Ouramdane, choreographer of the opening piece "Extreme Body" from the National Choreographic Center of Sayou, Paris, explained at the press conference, "Through the work, we posed questions about climate, immigration, and technology," adding, "Because we are aware of our vulnerability, we are capable of great things." "Extreme Body" features acrobats and athletes rather than traditional dancers, and has been praised for breaking conventional dance concepts.

Works contemplating the future of art and technology also attract attention. "Flesh" by Franck Vigroux from France is a fusion performance combining music, dance, and visual performance.

"Beckett's Room," presented by Dead Centre, is an experimental piece where the audience steps onto an empty stage and follows the story through voices heard via headphones and the movement of objects.

An Eun-mi Company’s "Welcome to Your Korea" also meets audiences at the festival. It was planned to overcome negative perceptions of Southeast Asia in collaboration with artists from Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, and the Philippines. "Noshional History" by Five Art Center explores new historical possibilities in Malaysia.

"Energy_Invisible Language," created by curator Kim Ji-yeon and director Jeon Yoon-hwan, interprets the climate crisis through the language of art and will also be staged.

At the press conference for the 2023 Seoul International Performing Arts Festival held on the 5th at the Daehangno Arts Theater in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Moon Young-ho, CEO of the Arts Management Support Center (left), is explaining about the festival. On the right is Choi Seok-gyu, the artistic director. Photo by Arts Management Support Center

Various works developed through the "SPAF Collaborative Artists" program, ongoing since December last year, will be performed. These include "The Art of Fighting, _2.0" directed by Kim Poong-nyeon of Jakdangmoi, "Women on Earth" directed by Jeon In-cheol of Dolpagu Theater Company, "Hamartia Trilogy: Rolling and Rolling, Kuku, History of Korean Theater" by writer Koo Ja-ha, and "Tomorrow is Now and Today is Yesterday" choreographed by Heo Seong-im of Heo Project.

Alongside diverse performances, the SPAF Workshop Festival, the National Contemporary Dance Company’s dance x technology process sharing, and the art x technology collaboration program with Art Korea Lab will also take place during the event. Representatives from related institutions, artists, and festival planners from Belgium, Canada, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Australia will participate to share various perspectives on the future of technology.

Moon Young-ho, CEO of the Arts Management Support Center, said, "This festival has prepared English subtitles for seven Korean-language performances, allowing foreign audiences to enjoy a total of 17 works," adding, "Five performances are barrier-free to support audiences with disabilities, thereby expanding accessibility for both foreign and disabled audiences."

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