Lu Xun's "Diary of a Madman" Comes to the Stage... A Critique of Modern Cannibalistic Society

The theater group Gongnori Club will stage its new production "Diary of a Madman," based on the eponymous novel by Lu Xun, regarded as a pioneer of modern Chinese literature, at Daehangno Theater Quad until May 3.

Gongnori Club drew attention last year after winning the Baeksang Arts Awards' Young Theater Award and the Dong-A Theater Awards' New Concept Theater Award. In the first half of this year, the group is presenting two new productions in succession. Following "Diary of a Madman," it plans to release "Mimi's Trivial Love" in May.

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"Diary of a Madman" was first unveiled last year at the 8th Chinese Play Reading Performance held at Myeongdong Theater. The original novel tells the story of a madman obsessed with the delusion that those around him are trying to eat him.

Director Kang Hoon-gu reinterprets this story in the context of contemporary Korean society, exposing the realities where competition, hatred, factional logic, and collective madness have become routine. Through themes such as the deepening of "othering" in endless competition, the inequality that exists behind development and progress, and political madness hardened by blind belief, the play sharply criticizes the cannibalistic nature of modern society, where "people eat people." It uses metaphors and symbols to reveal that the logic of cannibalism, which operated in the feudal past, still repeats in various forms today. Director Kang plans to break away from text-centered theater and realize the play as a total theater piece that maximizes audiovisual elements.

Translator Jang Hee-jae, who previously worked with Director Kang on the play "Principle," collaborates once again.

Ryu Se-il, the lead actor of Gongnori Club who recently delivered impressive performances in the plays "Mourning My Death" and "The Unprotected," takes on the role of the "madman." He is joined on stage by Kim Sol-ji, Nam Jae-guk, Park Eun-kyung, Yoo Jong-yeon, Lee Se-jun, and Lee Seung-hoon.

"Diary of a Madman" is recommended for audiences aged 14 and older (born before 2014). For detailed ticketing information and performance details, please refer to NOL Ticket (formerly Interpark).

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