Theatre Director
Sogapalag (2023)
SYNOPSIS
Seven people arrive in Sogapalag, a place where things are distorted and inverted. They keep wondering who they are and where they should go, but none of them can figure out where they came from or where they are going.
In the midst of their confusion, a tortoise appears before them. Despite its repeated declaration, "I must go to the sea," the tortoise continues to circle around Sogapalag. Following the sudden appearance of the tortoise, the people begin to unfold the vague stories that they have heard from somewhere. Sogapalag - the place that enchanted Niwrad Selrahc and Ksum Nole, and was sought after by the pirates of Añapse, the navy of Dnalgne, and the miners of Ainrofilac.
In the world where everything goes backwards, why does the turtle have to go to the sea? Quo vadis, tortoise!
CONCEPT
A World turned upside down!
The title "Sogapalag" is a reversed spelling of "Galapagos." Inspired by a world turned upside down, all proper nouns appearing in the play have their alphabets reversed.
Sogapalag, a world of distortion created by capitalism!
While the ruthless expansion of capitalism causes climate change and destroys ecosystems, human choices that defy the laws of nature create Sogapalag, a world where everything is inverted. In this distorted world, are we able to see and discern everything clearly? The sprawling development surrounding Sogapalag deprives a tortoise of land, and the turtle's desperate declaration leaves us wondering where to go next.
“To the sea! I must go to the sea!”
This work unravels the climate crisis caused by capitalism and the collapse of the world through Sogapalag, a place of distortion, and asks some profound questions. In a world where everything is inverted, do we really ‘know’ and ‘see’ things clearly? People claim to be aware of everything, but in reality, we may not know or see anything for sure.
TABLE OF SCENES
1. The Origin: Footprints
2. Appendix 1: Artists’ Sales Secrets
3. A Tortoise
4. Appendix 2: Artists’ Challenge
5. One Round, Money! - The Tortoise Brings Money!
6. Appendix 3: Artists’ Harmony
7. Quo Vadis, Tortoise?
8. Appendix 4: Artists’ Practice
9. Hold on, It May Be...
10. Appendix 5: Artists’ Business Strategy
11. Where to Go?
12. Appendix 6: Artists’ Farewell
CREDIT
Written and Directed by Sunghyun Lim
Cast : Minji Kang, Ye-eun Kim, Sojung Baek, Hyekyoung Baek, Daeeun Yang, Wooram Lee, Hyejin Han
Stage & Prop Design : Kyounghoon Cho
Lighting Design : Gwikyoung Ko
Sound Design : Morceau
Costume Design : Youngjoo Woo
Stage Manager : Sangyeop Kim
Assistant Director : Kitaek Oh
Sign Language Interpreter : Korean Sign Language Interpreter Association
Text Interpret Subtitle : Chung Lee
Producer : Sungyeon Park, Joobin Kim
Executive Producer : Ok-kyeong Kim
Artistic Director : Kwangbo Kim
Production : National Theater Company of Korea
Venue : Hongik University Art Center