King and People Play Together in 'Eolssu! Duri and Jeongjo' to Premiere Next Month on the 12th
The Jeongjo Theme Performance Hall, run by the Suwon Cultural Foundation (CEO Kwak Do-yong), will present the produced performance 'Korean Play <Eolssu! Duri and Jeongjo>' at 4 p.m. on the 12th of next month.
This performance was conceived from the practical concerns of the Jeongjo Theme Performance Hall as it enters its third year of operation. The venue sought to explore the feasibility of 'regular performances' to consistently fill the hall and to present performances that anyone—from children to seniors to foreigners—could enjoy without burden.
'Korean Play <Eolssu! Duri and Jeongjo>' begins with the question: "Can a king play with his people?" While existing performances featuring Jeongjo have presented the history and achievements of the Jeongjo era on stage, <Eolssu! Duri and Jeongjo> allows children living today to directly participate in the "shared world" that Jeongjo dreamed of through play.
The work begins with an unexpected encounter between 'Jeongjo,' the young king of the palace living within set rules and formalities, and 'Duri,' an apprentice jester in the courtyard who can do anything but has only imitated others and failed to find his own movements.
One day, following the sound of a drum, Jeongjo ventures into the courtyard where he meets Duri and experiences play without predetermined answers. As the two share gestures and rhythms and become friends, they create a new play with their own unique movements when they meet again. The stage becomes a single play arena through the vibrant rhythms of samulnori, mask dance, and hand cymbal play. The boundary between stage and audience, and between king and jester, dissolves.
Director Lim Young-ho takes charge of the script and direction, with participation from △music composer Lee A-min △visual artist Lim Jung-eun △choreographer Jung Chae-bin △stage designer Byun O-yong. The traditional cultural arts label 'Cheongryu' collaborated on the production. An emerging arts group based in Suwon, it presents diverse content that adds contemporary sensibility to traditional arts.
The performance is suitable for ages five and up, and tickets can be reserved for 10,000 won for all seats through Nol (NOL) Ticket. Various benefits are also provided, including discounts for Suwon residents and Jeongjo Theme Performance Hall Kakao Talk Plus Friends. Detailed performance information is available on the Suwon Cultural Foundation website and the official Instagram of the Jeongjo Theme Performance Hall.
An official from the Suwon Cultural Foundation stated, "<Eolssu! Duri and Jeongjo> is special in that it allows today's children to directly experience through play the 'shared world' that Jeongjo dreamed of," adding, "We hope the whole family will come together, dissolve the boundary between stage and audience, and spend a joyous time playing together."