‘The biggest "problem play" for producer, actors and audience that Shakespeare has left us.’ - The Guardian

On top of the tilted rotating stage that overwhelms the audience, a perplexing theater of relationships estranged over power begins. With the various characters and an open ending that one cannot clearly define, the stage and audience all wandered for a long time, engrossed in solving the puzzle that Shakespeare has left. It is the year 2017; the Director Oh Kyung Taek who recreates classics with a sense of modernism, and the seasonal members of the National Theater Company of Korea (Actors who are affiliated to the NTCK on a yearly-basis and appear on performances of NTCK) drive all of us into the center of this topic. If you are aware of the name of Shakespeare, participate in this perplexing parade.

‘The most complete and persuasive work of Shakespeare’ - Leavis, Literary critic

“Pay back death for death, sin for sin.” The perfect theater to end this year

Angelo takes responsibility of the government on behalf of the Duke who goes on a trip. He declares the principles of the society to the public and enforces this mercilessly, but makes an absurd proposal to grant the request of a woman who came to him to save her older brother from a death penalty if she were to lose her virginity to him. The moment when the axis of power tilts and truth is futilely crushed, the Duke, who has been watching everything from behind, intervenes and plots a new scenario. The brilliant lines of Shakespeare that crosses the boundaries of laughter and seriousness amid the political theater blended with justice, mercy, law, and morality, captivates the audience in an instant. While laughing and contemplating with the characters that are not much different from us, you will send off an eventful year in the most ideal way.

Synopsis

The Duke of Vienna leaves the government in the hands of Angelo on his behalf while he sets out for a trip. Angelo, who had been dissatisfied with the unconstrained atmosphere of the society, enforces strict law with age-old standards, and passes a death sentence to Claudio who had sexual relationships with his lover before marriage. Isabella goes before Angelo ask for her brother to be exempted from the death penalty. Angelo, with the image of a strict man of power, falls in love with Isabella and replies that he will grant her request if she were to sleep with him. The Duke, disguised as a friar, approaches Isabella who is in deep concern, and proposes a new trick…

Original Work William Shakespeare

The world’s best playwright born in England. His 39 plays, 154 sonnets, 4 narrative poetries, and several lyric poetries are passed on until today. Since research on Shakespeare officially started in the 18th century, an independent study called ‘The Study of Shakespeare’ initiated in England, used as the precedent of all fundamentals of criticism, made acting a role in a Shakespeare play to be deemed as a gateway for actors. Favorable comments and compliments, analysis and criticism, and reinterpretation into various genres have continued endlessly to the point of being meaningless to list it one by one.

Director Oh Kyung Taek

Director Oh has presented imaginative works by reinterpreting classics with a unique styles. While having strived to find contemporary characteristics in classical works of Anton Chekhov and William Shakespeare, he engages with the audience as he introduces foreign contemporary plays including <Red> and <Kill Me Now>.

※ Major works

Theater

<Kill Me Now> <Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike> <Red> <Hamlet> <14 People’s Chekhov> <Cherry Orchard> <A Servant to Two Masters> <The Lover> <Seagull> <Piaf> <Meaning of You> <Irregular Food Distributor> <The Three Sisters> <Pole and Slug> and more

Musical

<Red Book> <Tomorrow Morning> <Deep Rooted Tree>