The experimental project story A operated the ‘story A Small Theater’, a platform space for viewing theater performances, for the 21st Busan International Performing Arts Festival, a festival of theater artists and audiences.
Concept
The Busan International Theater Festival (BIPAF) is a leading performing arts festival in Busan, attracting over 60,000 audience members.
Held throughout the city, this international event features theater performances, citizen participation programs, street theater, artist talks, and various other genres and programs.
Story A participated in the festival to discover emerging theater companies and create opportunities for theater artists and audiences to connect through innovative performances.
Three small-scale, young theater companies were selected for their ability to adapt their performances to diverse environments, unbound by fixed venues.
From May 24 to June 2, over a span of 10 days, Story A Busan hosted each troupe’s three distinct theater performances and participatory workshops, allowing audiences to experience the joy of acting firsthand.
Through the cultural platform “story A Small Theater”, which reflects Amorepacific’s commitment to supporting youth and the arts, we hoped to introduce more people to theater—a relatively niche genre—offering them the chance to feel the raw emotions of the actors and experience the profound emotional resonance of live performance.
About the theater 1.
Performance 1. 3D Reading Play <Happy Ending> – 60 minutes
Theater Group: Project Group Soo
Playwright: PARK DaShi / Director: PARK SooAh / Producer: SHIN HoJung
Dramaturg: LEE GwangBok / Assistant Director & Sound Design: KWON WooJu
Cast: PARK MuYoung, JO MinRyeong, MIN SoJung
SuMi, who lost her mother to heart disease a year ago, creates a robot named SoonOk that closely resembles her. However, this only deepens her inexplicable sense of loss.
The next morning, SuMi wakes up to find her real mother’s presence in the robot, SoonOk.
She begins to feel her mother in every word and gesture, gradually coming to terms with her past memories.
About the theater 2.
Performance 2. <J and H> – 90 minutes
Bokgwang Theater Company
Playwright: YOON JiHong / Director: YOON JiHong / Producer: KANG MinSoo
Lighting: KANG MinSoo / Sound: CHOI YeRim
Cast: PARK JiYeon, CHAE JeSeong, PARK SeokBin, LIM YoungMin, KIM SeongWon, KIM ChangMo
After a long time apart, actor J and playwright H reunite.
Through the play script ‘J and H’, which recounts the story of their once-passionate love, they come face to face with their former selves.
About the theater 3.
Performance 3. <Hedda Gabler, the Shadow Behind the Curtain> – 90 minutes
Theater Company: Gongjon
Original: Henrik Ibsen / Adaptation: Jo Boo / Director: Jo Boo / Producer: Gongjon
Lighting: HWANG InJun / Sound: HWANG InJun
Cast: PARK SeongMin, SEON YuYoung, HYUN JungHa, HONG SeongAn, JO BoWoo
Hedda Gabler marries a man she does not love.
When a former lover returns, now successful, the fragile balance of her marriage begins to unravel.
About the program.
Acting Workshop · 120 min
Hosted by HWANG InJoon
Don’t overthink it—just have fun!
Naturally express your emotions through guided drama script reading led by a professional theater actor.
