The Power

Written by Nis-Momme Stockmann

Translated by CHANG Eunsoo

Directed by Alexis Bug

Language: Korean

German subtitles on Friday 5 JUNE at 8:00PM & Saturday 6 JUNE at 3:00PM

Running Time: Approx 180 mins (with intermission)

Age Restriction: Suitable for ages 19 and over

World Premier Production

"The connection of exploitation and freedom creates a tremendous efficiency. You imagine yourself in liberty but basically you exploit yourself voluntarily and passionately."

HAN Byung Chul

Brecht's daring descendants are coming!

Starting from the definition of Korean philosopher HAN Byung Chul that capitalism is an evolutionary system, The Power satirizes capitalist methods of suppression which has been dramatically developed throughout the last century. The playwright, Nis Momme Stockmann's experience in Seoul puts vivid and sharp social criticism with his self-ironic and humoristic style in the play. This production is the World Premier.

Written by Nis Momme Stockmann

The multi-talented German playwright, Stockmann has been working as a freelance writer/artist exploring in writing, filming, photographing, painting and drawing. His multi-award winning play, The Man Who Ate The World premiered in 2009 was chosen one of the best European Plays by the European Theater Convention. Also he was acclaimed as Young Dramatist of the Year in the Theater Heute critics' choice in the same year.

Directed by Alexis Bug

German Director, Playwright

After studying at Acting School in Bochum, he has worked as an actor, playwright, and director. He is well known to Korean audiences as a witty and creative director by several collaborations with Street Theatre Troupe in Miryang. His recent collaboration with Street Theatre Troupe, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare was very well received by Korean critics and audiences. He was a winner of the Martha Saalfeld Award in 2004.

Synopsis

The play is divided into three acts, and the character who calls himself the writer of the play enters in the prologue and the epilogue to signal the beginning and the ending of the play. The first act is the story of Green Soldiers who have been fighting a war for one hundred years, but the war has never taken place. They have no choice but to continue fighting in the war which never took place because once the war comes to an end, they will not get paid. The story of Green Soldiers touches upon the absurdity of capitalism. The second act takes place in an office where office workers are in a heated debate about the modern day culture of consumption and the psychology behind the act of buying. The debate throws questions whether there is free will in the society inundated by materialism and how our free will is manipulated to maximize profit. In the third act, the main character who is an ordinary office worker is on his way home with his coworker, M, and when they meet a homeless person at a subway station, they find themselves in an unlikely conversation with each other. The play presents three different episodes on the topic of capitalism and asks the audience to ponder on the absurdity and dehumanizing effect of it in the present day society.

Cast

PARK Yoonhee, HA Sungkwang, KIM Suenghwan, KUM Jungwon, YOO Seungrak, JUNG Hyuncheol, PARK Chanhee, YOO Jungmin, KIM Shinrock, PARK Siyoung

Related Events

Post-Show Talk with Artists on Saturday 6 JUN

Discount Scheme

• Youth under 24yrs and college students (ID required): 30%

• Korean-Air membership(Skypass) card holder (up to 4 tickets per person): 20%