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The History of Korean Western Theatre by Jaha Koo (18/05/2025)

The History of Korean Western Theatre 

by by Jaha Koo

Thursday 12 June and Friday 13 June

Theatre of the Society for Macedonian Studies


The International Forest Festival of the National Theatre of Northern Greece returns to Thessaloniki from 31 May to 13 June with an impressive programme of innovative proposals from the international theatre scene

This year, the city will host productions from England, France, Belgium, Lebanon, South Africa and Uruguay. The festival programme will be accompanied by a series of parallel activities in the form of workshops and discussions.

In the new era that is taking shape around us, it is imperative that theatre stands up to the dominant discourses and moulds new fields of visibility. It is vital that it focuses on the cracks that are opening up in the hegemonic narratives, creates new ways for and loci where minds can meet, and reinvents new possibilities of coexistence. The artists bring with them the personal experiences with which they attempt to make sense of multiple realities that are finding it hard to coexist in a world of extreme contrasts and marginalized communities.

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Celebrating the centenary of Korean theatre in 2008, the South Korean theatre maker / composer Jaha Koo realized that there is actually no space for Korean theatre tradition: what is regarded as Korean theatre is largely determined by the Western canon. But why are the South Koreans so proud of this Western interpretation? And why does everyone keep referring to Shakespeare? It raises questions about tradition, self-censorship and authenticity.
 
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In this final piece of his “Hamartia Trilogy”, Jaha Koo resolutely focuses on the future. Meticulously, he exposes the tragic impact of the past on our lives, unveiling the small cracks in modern Confucianism - an ideology that continues to define the moral system, way of life and social relations between generations in South Korea. With a new generation of South Koreans in mind, he attempts to break with a tradition full of self-censorship and keeping up appearances. Because only when based on an authentic version of history, he can pass on a future to the next generation.
 
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Credits
The History of Korean Western Theatre 
by Jaha Koo

Concept/Text/ Direction/Music/Video: Jaha Koo 
Dramaturgy: Dries Douibi 
Scenography/ Drawing: Eunkyung Jeong 
Αrtistic advisor: Pol Heyvaert 
Research: Eunkyung Jeong and Jaha Koo 
Research assistance: Sang Ok Kim 
Hardware hacking: Idella Craddock 
Ιnterview: Jooyoung Koh, Kiran Kim and Kyungmi Lee 
Τechnical: Korneel Coessens, Jan Berckmans, Bart Huybrechts, Koen Goossens (and Jonas Castelijns) 
Production: CAMPO 

On stage: Jaha Koo, Seri & Toad
 
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Reservations / Tickets
Full price: 13 €
Discount Ticket (Over 65s, Group ticket for 10 people, Educators): 10 €
Student - Pupil: 8 €
 
 

Co-produced by Kunstenfestivaldesarts (Brussels), Münchner Kammerspiele, Frascati Producties (Amsterdam), Veem House for Performance (Amsterdam), SPRING performing arts festival (Utrecht), Zürcher Theaterspektakel, Black Box teater (Oslo), International Summer Festival Kampnagel (Hamburg), Tanzquartier Wien, wpZimmer (Antwerp), Théâtre de la Bastille (Paris) & Festival d’Automne à Paris 
Residencies: Kunstencentrum BUDA (Kortrijk), wpZimmer (Antwerp), Decoratelier Jozef Wouters (Brussels), Doosan Art Center (Seoul) 
With the support of Beursschouwburg, Vlaamse Gemeenschapscommissie & Amsterdams Fonds voor de Kunst

CAMPO is supported by the city of Ghent and the Flemish Community.
 
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