Leontien Allemeersch

The History of Korean Western Theatre

Jaha Koo / CAMPO

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.

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.

Duration: 60 minutes
In Korean, with English and Dutch subtitles

Part of

Theme productions

Leontien Allemeersch

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Leontien Allemeersch

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The History of Korean Western Theatre forms the last part of Jaha Koo's Hamartia Trilogy. Together with Lolling and Rolling and Cuckoo, the trilogy consists of three intelligent documentary theatre performances, each telling a story about 'hamartia', Greek for 'tragic error'. The common thread here is the far-reaching imperialism of the past and present, and its sometimes unexpected personal impact. Each time, Jaha Koo interweaves his personal stories with historical, political and sociological facts. Often themes that involve a clash of Eastern and Western culture: from the clipping of tongues to make it in the West, to the heavy personal toll of Western interference in the macroeconomic sphere.

IN THE PRESS

"With an amazing talent Jaha Koo bridges the richness of Eastern cultural traditions with the use of technology and contemporary art to anchor us in the present. To make us reflect on our collective future." La Presse - Luc Boulanger, 07-07-22

"Coming from a corner of the world caught between frightening totalitarianism and savage capitalism, Jaha Koo's reflections are patently relevant." JEU Revue de théâtre - Dominique Denis, 07-07-22

"Jaha Koo's unique style moves, invigorates and, most importantly, makes you think." Theatre Quebec - Daphné Bathalon, 07-07-22

"While I learnt a great deal from the show, it is anything but blandly educational, thanks to its freewheeling blend of autobiography and history, and pop and folk culture." British Theatre Guide - Mark Smith, 10-03-22

"Il fait une démonstration magistrale de la capacité du théâtre contemporain à jouer de tous les langages, – textuels, sonores et visuels – pour circonscrire un impossible : donner à sentir le poids du silence." Mouvement.fr - Aïnhoa Jean-Calmettes, 30-09-20

"Modernised magic, absurd seriousness, moving science – The History of Korean Western Theatre is founded on all these contrasts. This is the paradoxical theatre idiom that makes Jaha Koo an utterly unique artist." e-tcetera.be / Evelyne Coussens, 29-10-20

Credits

concept, text, direction, music & video Jaha Koo performance Jaha Koo, Seri & Toad dramaturgy Dries Douibi scenography & drawing Eunkyung Jeong artistic advisor Pol Heyvaert technical Korneel Coessens, Jan Berckmans, Bart Huybrechts, Koen Goossens (& Jonas Castelijns) hardware hacking Idella Craddock research Eunkyung Jeong & Jaha Koo research assistance Sang Ok Kim interview Jooyoung Koh, Kiran Kim & Kyungmi Lee production CAMPO 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

Past touring dates

08 May 20 - 20:30 - Kunstenfestivaldesarts - Brussel (Belgium) (CANCELLED)

09 May 20 - 18:00 - Kunstenfestivaldesarts - Brussel (Belgium) (CANCELLED)

10 May 20 - 20:30 - Kunstenfestivaldesarts - Brussel (Belgium) (CANCELLED)

13 May 20 - 20:30 - Kunstenfestivaldesarts - Brussel (Belgium) (CANCELLED)

14 May 20 - 19:00 - Kunstenfestivaldesarts - Brussel (Belgium) (CANCELLED)

15 May 20 - 20:30 - Kunstenfestivaldesarts - Brussel (Belgium) (CANCELLED)

16 May 20 - 18:00 - Kunstenfestivaldesarts - Brussel (Belgium) (CANCELLED)

19 May 20 - SPRING Performing Arts Festival - Utrecht (The Netherlands) (CANCELLED)

20 May 20 - SPRING Performing Arts Festival - Utrecht (The Netherlands) (CANCELLED)

05 Jun 20 - Münchner Kammerspiele - München (Germany) (CANCELLED)

06 Jun 20 - Münchner Kammerspiele - München (Germany) (CANCELLED)

27 Aug 20 - Zürcher Theater Spektakel - Zürich (Switzerland) (CANCELLED)

27 Aug 20 - 19:00 - International Summer Festival of Kampnagel - Hamburg (Germany)

28 Aug 20 - Zürcher Theater Spektakel - Zürich (Switzerland) (CANCELLED)

28 Aug 20 - 19:00 - International Summer Festival of Kampnagel - Hamburg (Germany)

29 Aug 20 - Zürcher Theater Spektakel - Zürich (Switzerland) (CANCELLED)

29 Aug 20 - 19:00 - International Summer Festival of Kampnagel - Hamburg (Germany)

29 Aug 20 - 22:00 - International Summer Festival of Kampnagel - Hamburg (Germany)

30 Aug 20 - Zürcher Theater Spektakel - Zürich (Switzerland) (CANCELLED)

02 Sep 20 - Theaterfestival Basel - Basel (Switzerland)

03 Sep 20 - Theaterfestival Basel - Basel (Switzerland)

23 Sep 20 - Festival d'Automne à Paris - Parijs (France)

24 Sep 20 - Festival d'Automne à Paris - Parijs (France)

25 Sep 20 - Festival d'Automne à Paris - Parijs (France)

26 Sep 20 - Festival d'Automne à Paris - Parijs (France)

28 Sep 20 - Festival d'Automne à Paris - Parijs (France)

29 Sep 20 - Festival d'Automne à Paris - Parijs (France)

30 Sep 20 - Festival d'Automne à Paris - Parijs (France)

01 Oct 20 - Festival d'Automne à Paris - Parijs (France)

07 Oct 20 - 20:30 - CAMPO nieuwpoort - Gent

08 Oct 20 - 20:30 - CAMPO nieuwpoort - Gent

11 Oct 20 - FIT - Festivale Internazionale del Teatro - Lugano (Switzerland)

06 Nov 20 - 19:30 - Tanzquartier Wien - Wenen (Oostenrijk) (CANCELLED)

07 Nov 20 - 19:30 - Tanzquartier Wien - Wenen (Oostenrijk) (CANCELLED)

10 Nov 20 - 20:00 - SPRING in Autumn - Utrecht (The Netherlands) (CANCELLED)

11 Nov 20 - 18:00 - SPRING in Autumn - Utrecht (The Netherlands) (CANCELLED)

11 Nov 20 - 21:00 - SPRING in Autumn - Utrecht (The Netherlands) (CANCELLED)

02 Feb 21 - Frascati - Amsterdam (The Netherlands) (CANCELLED)

03 Feb 21 - Frascati - Amsterdam (The Netherlands) (CANCELLED)

04 Feb 21 - Frascati - Amsterdam (The Netherlands) (CANCELLED)

03 Mar 21 - nona - Mechelen (Belgium) (CANCELLED)

26 May 21 - 19:00 - SPRING Performing Arts Festival - (The Netherlands)

27 May 21 - 18:00 - SPRING Performing Arts Festival - (The Netherlands)

27 May 21 - 21:00 - SPRING Performing Arts Festival - (The Netherlands)

11 Jun 21 - Printemps des Comédiens - Montpellier (France)

12 Jun 21 - Printemps des Comédiens - Montpellier (France)

13 Jun 21 - Printemps des Comédiens - Montpellier (France)

01 Jul 21 - Kunstenfestivaldesarts - Brussel (Belgium)

02 Jul 21 - Kunstenfestivaldesarts - Brussel (Belgium)

03 Jul 21 - Kunstenfestivaldesarts - Brussel (Belgium)

04 Jul 21 - Kunstenfestivaldesarts - Brussel (Belgium)

05 Jul 21 - Kunstenfestivaldesarts - Brussel (Belgium)

06 Jul 21 - Kunstenfestivaldesarts - Brussel (Belgium)

12 Aug 21 - 20:00 - Festival Veranos de la Villa - Madrid (Spain)

13 Aug 21 - 20:00 - Festival Veranos de la Villa - Madrid (Spain)

19 Aug 21 - 20:30 - Zürcher Theater Spektakel - (Switzerland)

20 Aug 21 - 20:30 - Zürcher Theater Spektakel - (Switzerland)

21 Aug 21 - 20:30 - Zürcher Theater Spektakel - (Switzerland)

02 Sep 21 - 20:00 - het TheaterFestival Vlaanderen - Antwerpen (Belgium)

03 Sep 21 - 20:00 - het TheaterFestival Vlaanderen - Antwerpen (Belgium)

09 Sep 21 - Short Theatre Festival - Rome (Italië)

10 Sep 21 - Short Theatre Festival - Rome (Italië)

24 Sep 21 - 21:00 - Sophiensaele - Berlijn (Germany)

25 Sep 21 - 21:00 - Sophiensaele - Berlijn (Germany)

01 Oct 21 - Festival Actoral - Marseille (France)

02 Oct 21 - Festival Actoral - Marseille (France)

12 Oct 21 - 21:30 - Frascati - Amsterdam (The Netherlands)

13 Oct 21 - 21:30 - Frascati - Amsterdam (The Netherlands)

14 Oct 21 - 21:30 - Frascati - Amsterdam (The Netherlands)

09 Nov 21 - 20:30 - nona - Mechelen (Belgium)

26 Nov 21 - 20:00 - Akcent Festival - Archa - Praag (Tsjechië)

27 Nov 21 - 20:00 - Akcent Festival - Archa - Praag (Tsjechië)

07 Jan 22 - Theater Rotterdam - Rotterdam (The Netherlands) (CANCELLED)

08 Jan 22 - Theater Rotterdam - Rotterdam (The Netherlands) (CANCELLED)

14 Jan 22 - CC Lokeren - Lokeren (Belgium) (CANCELLED)

22 Jan 22 - 20:30 - CAMPO victoria - Gent

29 Jan 22 - Teatre Lliure Barcelona - Barcelona (Spain)

30 Jan 22 - Teatre Lliure Barcelona - Barcelona (Spain)

10 Mar 22 - 20:00 - Transform Festival - Leeds (Engeland)

11 Mar 22 - 20:00 - Transform Festival - Leeds (Engeland)

20 Mar 22 - MeetYou Festival - Valladollid (Spain)

29 May 22 - 19:30 - Kunstfestspiele Herrenhausen - Hannover (Germany)

02 Jun 22 - 19:00 - FTA Festival TransAmériques - Montréal (Québec) (Canada)

03 Jun 22 - 21:00 - FTA Festival TransAmériques - Montréal (Québec) (Canada)

04 Jun 22 - 15:00 - FTA Festival TransAmériques - Montréal (Québec) (Canada)

05 Jun 22 - 15:00 - FTA Festival TransAmériques - Montréal (Québec) (Canada)

05 Jun 22 - 19:00 - FTA Festival TransAmériques - Montréal (Québec) (Canada)

08 Jun 22 - Festival Carrefour International de Théâtre - Québec (Canada)

09 Jun 22 - Festival Carrefour International de Théâtre - Québec (Canada)

06 Jul 22 - 20:00 - Baltoscandal - Rakvere (Estonia)

07 Jul 22 - 19:00 - Baltoscandal - Rakvere (Estonia)

03 Sep 22 - 20:30 - Wiesbaden Biennale - Wiesbaden (Germany)

04 Sep 22 - 18:00 - Wiesbaden Biennale - Wiesbaden (Germany)

09 Sep 22 - 19:00 - Black Box Teater - Oslo (Noorwegen)

10 Sep 22 - 19:00 - Black Box Teater - Oslo (Noorwegen)

22 Sep 22 - 20:30 - Theater De Nieuwe Vorst - Tilburg (The Netherlands)

29 Sep 22 - 19:00 - Theater Rotterdam - Rotterdam (The Netherlands)

17 Mar 23 - National Theatre and Concert Hall - NTCH - Taipei (Taiwan)

18 Mar 23 - National Theatre and Concert Hall - NTCH - Taipei (Taiwan)

13 Oct 23 - 19:30 - Seoul Performing Arts Festival - Seoul (Korea)

14 Oct 23 - 15:00 - Seoul Performing Arts Festival - Seoul (Korea)

31 Oct 23 - Dramaten - the Royal Dramatic Theatre - Stockholm (Zweden )

01 Nov 23 - Dramaten - the Royal Dramatic Theatre - Stockholm (Zweden )

04 Nov 23 - CC Ter vesten - Beveren (Belgium)

17 Nov 23 - 20:30 - CAMPO nieuwpoort - Gent

01 Feb 24 - 20:00 - On The Boards - Seattle, WA (United States of America)

02 Feb 24 - 20:00 - On The Boards - Seattle, WA (United States of America)

03 Feb 24 - 20:00 - On The Boards - Seattle, WA (United States of America)

03 Mar 24 - 20:00 - MITsp - Mostra Internacional de Teatro São Paulo - São Paulo (Brazil)

04 Mar 24 - 16:00 - MITsp - Mostra Internacional de Teatro São Paulo - São Paulo (Brazil)

23 Jan 25 - PuSh International Performing Arts Festival - Vancouver (Canada)

24 Jan 25 - PuSh International Performing Arts Festival - Vancouver (Canada)

12 Jun 25 - National Theatre of Northern Greece - International Forest Festival - Thessaloniki (Greece)

13 Jun 25 - National Theatre of Northern Greece - International Forest Festival - Thessaloniki (Greece)