"As an actress who was in her element on the stage, Lee Hye-young’s performance was absolutely gracious with her presence dominating the place.“

-Review on Hedda Gabler, Dong-A Ilbo-

"The free imagination of Felix Alexa generated a challenging and excellent reinterpretation of a classic masterpiece."

-Review on Richard II, Hankyoreh-

Here is another amazing stage you’d treasure in your memories!

A challenging and novel interpretation of The Seagull by Anton Chekhov

In 2012, Hedda Gabler had been one of the hottest plays out there thanks to Lee Hye-young, who returned to the stage after a 13-year absence. Breaking her years of silence, she enjoyed so much spotlight praise, winning the best actress award for both the Dong-A Theatre Awards and Korea Theater Awards. And here she goes again, capturing the audience’s attention with her role as the famous actress in The Seagull by Anton Chekhov. Director Felix Alexa, widely known as the next-generation maestro in Europe, transforms Myeongdong Theater into the very stage of the story. To live up to his impressive reputation as a master of symbolic direction, he will create poetic images using water and paper as part of his careful and sensitive mise-en-scène. The Seagull will serve as an opportunity to watch well-seasoned actors, including Oh Young-soo, Lee Seung-chul, Lee Hye-young, Lee Chang-jik, Lee Jung-mi, and Lee Myong-haeng, create an energetic harmony with promising rookies like Gim Gi-soo and Kang Ju-hee. Therefore, expect to see an impressive stage performance, an experience to be treasured within your memory!

Tragedy of life is in fact a play

The most quintessentially ‘Chekhov’ play among all the works of Anton Chekhov

Anton Chekhov is one of the greatest Russian writers in history, often referred to as the ‘best playwright since Shakespeare’. One of his greatest works, The Seagull, is well known as Chekhov’s most emblematic play. He illustrates daily life in a most realistic manner, making us smile wryly at the gap between reality and ideals. The story is about a passionate aspiring playwright who voices on introducing a new format of play; his mother, a famous actress, refuses to accept her son’s vision; and a prominent writer and a would-be actress fall in love with each other, turning their back on the ones they were in love with. What these characters experience in the story – the gap between ideals and reality, the emotion of unrequited love, and the absence of communication – are expressed without gaudy exaggeration. And when the small cracks in their everyday relationships start to appear and stir up questions, you will then realize that you are not so different from the characters on the stage.

Synopsis

Arkadina, a famous actress, visits her brother’s country estate with the writer Trigorin, her lover, to watch a play directed by her son, Konstantin. The play, for which Konstantin starred his lover Nina as the protagonist, was in a new theatrical form. Finding it ridiculous and incomprehensible, Arkadina laughs at the play and the performance ends prematurely. Kostantin, angry that his mother is a famed actress, goes on to show his dislike against Trigorin, criticizing the writer’s works and the prevalent art format of the time. Nina does not understand how Konstantin behaves, and decides to leave for Moscow to realize her dream of becoming a successful actress.

Original Play Anton Chekhov

Translation Oh Jong-woo

Director Felix Alexa

Stage Designer Lee Tae-sup

Lighting Designer Kim Chang-key

Costume Designer Kim Ji-yeon

Make-up Designer Baek Ji-young

Prop Designer Kim Sang-hee

Video Designer Yoon Min-cheol

Embellishment Park Choon-keun

Cast

Oh Young-soo

Lee Seung-chul

Lee Hye-young

Lee Chang-jik

Lee Jung-mi

Lee Myong-haeng

Park Wan-kyu

Park Ji-a

Hwang Eun-hoo

Kang Ju-hee

Jang Chan-ho

Gim Gi-soo