Committee Chair Jeong Byeong-guk: "15th Anniversary Creative Workshop Achievements Including Overseas Expansion... Will Strengthen Support in Phases"

Performing Arts Creation Workshop Discovers 274 New Works Over 15 Years
Opening from January 2024, Actor Cha Ji-yeon Appointed Ambassador

"The Performing Arts Creation Workshop, which has built trust among many creators and audiences every year with high-quality works, has produced a total of 274 pieces over the past 15 years through the 'New Work of the Year' program, achieving various accomplishments."

Jeong Byeong-guk, Chairman of the Korea Arts & Culture Commission, is speaking about "Achievements and Development Directions of the Performing Arts Creation Studio" at the integrated press conference for the "2023 Performing Arts Creation Studio New Works of the Year" held on the afternoon of the 11th at the Artists' House in Jongno-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

At the 'Performing Arts Creation Workshop' press conference held on the 11th at the Artist's House in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Jung Byung-guk, Chairman of the Korea Arts Council, said, "In the beginning, even giving out invitation tickets did not fill the seats, but now there are cases of sold-out performances for all shows."

Chairman Jung introduced, "Especially since last year, works have been invited to Poland, Japan, China, and other countries, showing the overseas advancement of Korean creative performances," and "the creative musicals 'HOPE: The Unread Book and the Unread Life' and 'Red Book' have stabilized, and opera works are steadily being staged."

Started in 2008 as 'Creative Factory,' the Performing Arts Creation Workshop is a project that discovers excellent creative repertoires by supporting each stage of the performing arts field from production to distribution.

The musical 'Marie Curie' (2018 New Work of the Year), discovered through the Creation Workshop, successfully completed performances in Poland and Japan this year. Also, the musical 'Inside William' (2020 New Work of the Year) was invited to Shanghai, China this year and was performed locally, proving the potential for overseas expansion of K-creative performances.

On this day, the Arts Council announced 28 works selected as the '2023 Performing Arts Creation Workshop New Works of the Year' along with past achievements.

Kang Ryang-won, Director of Arko·Daehangno Arts Theater, explained, "The works selected this year based on contemporaneity, diversity, and originality include many that re-examine various figures hidden in history," adding, "We also plan to introduce works that share reflections on modern anxieties and community with the audience."

Director Kang further added, "Additionally, we have prepared various works so that performances crossing boundaries can be fully enjoyed."

In the theater genre, five works were selected: ▲Barri of the Hill ▲To My Son ▲Teddy Daddy Run ▲Sarah in Wonderland ▲Hwajeon (火田).

'Barri of the Hill' depicts the life of the female bomb activist An Kyung-shin, of whom no photographs remain, and 'To My Son' highlights the life of Hyun Mi-ok (Alice Hyun), who participated in the independence and communist movements. 'Sarah in Wonderland' tells the story of a family with a member suffering from schizophrenia. These works that re-examine figures neglected amid social and historical trials attract attention.

Director Kang emphasized, "The two works about female independence activists focus on a woman's life beyond independence, nation, and ethnicity," and added, "(They) do not portray socially vulnerable people from the perspective of victims or beneficiaries but view them from a subjective standpoint."

In addition to the five plays, there will be ▲4 creative musicals ▲6 dance works ▲5 music works ▲3 creative operas ▲5 traditional arts works presented to the audience.

In the dance category, six works including 'Animal,' 'A Dark Room,' and 'Banga: Everyone's Private Property' were selected; in music, five works including 'Folk Song Cello' and 'Cross Concerto Project'; in opera, three works including '3 and 1/2 A' and 'If I Knew Then What I Know Now' were chosen. In the traditional arts genre, five works including 'Manjungsakman - Memories of Forgotten Breaths,' 'Water Play,' and 'Male Changgeuk Salome' were named.

The 28 works will be staged from January 6 next year. Performances will be held at Arko·Daehangno Arts Theater, National Theater, Chungmu Art Hall, Daejeon Yeonjeong Municipal Gugak Center, and others.

Jeong Byeong-guk, Chairman of the Korea Arts and Culture Education Service, is taking a commemorative photo with ambassador Cha Ji-yeon at the appointment ceremony for the Performing Arts Creation Studio ambassadors held on the afternoon of the 11th at the Artist's House in Jongno-gu, Seoul.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Furthermore, the Arts Council plans to continuously strive to introduce excellent creative performances through various channels and develop new audiences by video recording outstanding performances and cooperating with institutions.

In particular, the 'New Work of the Year' performances will be provided live and on-demand via Naver TV after the shows, and in the second half of 2024, five outstanding new works will be screened nationwide at CGV cinemas through the video project 'Arko Live' in collaboration with CGV.

On this day, the Arts Council selected actress Cha Ji-yeon as the promotional ambassador for the 2024 Performing Arts Creation Workshop. Cha Ji-yeon appeared in the premiere of 'HOPE' and starred in 'Red Book' in 2021, winning the Best Actress Award at the 2022 Korean Musical Awards, maintaining a deep connection with the Creation Workshop.

Cha Ji-yeon said, "There are still good new works on stage, but it seems difficult for actively working actors to easily connect with them," adding, "If a communication channel is created for this, more diverse actors could contribute to discovering good works."

She continued, "Our actors ultimately understand and express our people and language best," and said, "Creative works based on this provide a great deal of inspiration, comfort, and courage, so I will widely promote opportunities for creative challenges regardless of genre."

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