London Korean Links

Covering things Korean in London and beyond since 2006

Oh Tae-seok’s The Bicycle at Camden People’s Theatre

Those of you who went to the sell-out performances of Romeo and Juliet at the Barbican last year will be interested to know that another play by Oh Tae-seok (Oh T’ae-sŏk, 오태석), The Bicycle, will be shown at the Camden People’s Theatre this month, 10 – 29 July.

“One night I fainted because the ghost of a young woman called out to me from her grave by the side of the road. I was so scared that I began to shake and, later, I got sick. Whereupon I submit this report of absence.”

Bicycle Graphic 1

Spirits of an earlier time swirl together with inhabitants of the present as a town clerk tells of the mysterious events which led to his prolonged absence from work. Haunted by the bloody history of his family, Yun’s journey home one night reveals the tragic legacy of the Korean War through the strange, humorous and disturbed characters he meets.

Theatre Company E’zi proudly presents the UK premiere of Bicycle, by Korea’s leading playwright Oh Tae-suk. Combining experiences of his own family in the war with traditional Korean storytelling, Oh’s play is a hauntingly eloquent exploration of a dark past and its implications for the present.

An internationally acclaimed playwright and theatre director, Master Oh is best known in the United Kingdom for his recent, groundbreaking production of Romeo and Juliet at The Barbican, which sold out three weeks before it opened. Bicycle premiered in 1983 at the Korean Theatre Festival. It has since gained global stature and is now recognised as one of Master Oh’s greatest works.

Led by an international, multi-abled cast, Theatre Company E’zi presents a new version of this seminal work in a haunting production which promises to be one of London’s most fascinating theatrical events of 2007.

Apologies for doing a lazy post and just block-quoting the press release. I’ve been away for a few days with no time to research any supplementary material.

Links:

Bicycle Graphic 2

(automatically generated) Read LKL’s review of this event here.