[Seongbukdong Beedoolkee Theatre's New Experiment in Pursuit of Pure Theatrical Spirit]

Following last year's success with 'Bye Cycle', an adaptation of the original work 'Bicycle' by Korean theater maestro Oh Tae-suk, which won the 51st Dong-A Theater Award for Best Play, director Kim Hyun-tak of Seongbukdong Beedoolkee Theatre now takes the stage at Namsan Arts Center with 'Metamorphosis : Sleeping Beauty'. Known for his contemporary readings of classics based on deconstruction and delivering fresh shocks with each production, Kim's first foray into mid-sized theater merges his radical ideas with the uniquely structured Namsan Arts Center Drama Center, raising anticipation for what kind of stage they will create together.


[A Meeting Between Existential Literature Pioneer Franz Kafka and Director Kim Hyun-tak]

Franz Kafka's 'The Metamorphosis', which explores themes of human existence, alienation, and futility in the 20th century, is reimagined through Kim Hyun-tak's contemporary lens, transforming into a unique and avant-garde work. 'Metamorphosis : Sleeping Beauty' is not simply an adaptation of the novel but horizontally shifts the narrative through Kim's previous works, such as 'Bloodline', 'Death of a Salesman', and 'Medea on Media', to amplify its theatricality. The entangled stage of various plays effectively conveys Samsa's complex emotions and imagination to the audience, while Samsa's transformation invites them to discover the meaning of everyday life and existence in the modern world.


[A Question Posed to Modern People Yearning for a More Noble Life]

Why did Samsa have to become an insect, and why did Kafka, as the author, liberate him from his family, even by making him an insect? Through Samsa's transformation, Kim Hyun-tak newly discovers the meaning of Kafka's life and writing—a talented writer who was, at the same time, compelled to work for an insurance company for a living. He encourages modern individuals, who are constantly pressured to live as 'ideal members of society,' to ask themselves: Why do I have to be the ant?


[Synopsis]

Gregor, a traveling salesman, wakes up one morning to find himself transformed into an insect. When he fails to get out of bed, his family reproaches him for not going to work. When Gregor finally gets up and steps out of his room, everyone is horrified. His miserable life as an insect begins. His father goes to work, and the family takes in lodgers to make ends meet. One day, when Gregor reveals himself to his mother, she faints, and his father injures him by throwing apples at him. A few days later, Gregor comes out to listen to his sister play the violin for the lodgers but is locked back in his room by his family, who wish to hide his insect form. The next day, the cleaning lady discovers Gregor has died and informs the family. Feeling relieved, the family takes a streetcar out for a stroll.