Park Jeong-hee, the director and artistic director of the National Theater Company, stated, “We will create works suitable for overseas ventures to elevate the status of Korean theater,” during a press conference held on the 16th at the Myeongdong Art Theater in Seoul. Director Park, who took office in April, explained the direction of the theater company for the next three years. Under the slogan of ‘The representative theater company of Korea loved by all citizens,’ she emphasized strengthening the theater company’s system, diversity of theatrical colors, and developing repertoires considering international exchanges.
Director Park mentioned that while there have been collaborations with foreign directors that resulted in works being shown abroad, there have been very few self-produced works by the National Theater Company other than examples like ‘The Orphan of Joseon and The Seeds of Revenge.’ She stated that they will actively develop new repertoires with an eye on overseas ventures, appoint an international exchange producer, explore opportunities for overseas ventures through international networks, and continue collaborating with foreign creative and production teams.
Director Park also highlighted the utilization and enhancement of the prestige of the National Theater Company’s exclusive theater, the Myeongdong Art Theater. They plan to increase the number of productions per year from 5-6 to 8-10 to raise the current theater utilization rate in the 60% range to around 90%. Considering the theater’s location in a tourist hub, they are also exploring ways to attract foreign audiences. Director Park expressed her intention to raise both the quality of productions and audience attendance numbers to achieve a ‘Renaissance of the Myeongdong Art Theater.’
Next year, the National Theater Company will return to the Namsan National Theater. This move marks the transition from being solely based in the National Theater complex to a foundation status, which occurred 15 years after the relocation to Seogye-dong in 2010. Director Park noted, “Starting next year, we will meet with audiences at the National Theater as well,” and mentioned plans to present large-scale works based on Korean themes with universal appeal at the Haereum Theater and contemporary issue-based productions at the Dallaeum Theater.
In addition, the National Theater Company plans to introduce a competition for original playwriting, diversify the support recipients for artist creation support programs, and expand accessibility performances including the ‘Open Seats’ initiative. Director Park, who majored in theater at Goethe University in Frankfurt, Germany, has directed artistically acclaimed works such as ‘Iron,’ ‘Maidens,’ and ‘Lee Young-nyeo,’ winning several theater awards.