The 2nd PPF, hosted and organized by the creative group 'Gogeekame' and the PPF Executive Committee, with support from the Korea Theatre Association, the Seoul Theatre Association, and Germany's 'Full Spin International Physical Theater Festival,' will unfold from Sept. 2 (Tue) to Sept. 7 (Sun) at the Jihoon Art Hall in Daehangno, Seoul.
PPF, now in its second year, is the only physical theater festival in Korea, and it will offer a wider variety of programs for audiences this year, following last year.
The opening performance on Sept. 2 (Tue) will feature mime artist Kim Seong-yeon, choreographer Seong An-young, and actor and PPF Executive Chairman Professor Baek Nam-young from Chung-Ang University, presenting their own solo works in a colorful display.
On Sept. 3 (Wed), the jointly created work 'Dream Big, Bitches' (directed by Elizabeth Hofmann) by the Folkwang University of the Arts in Germany and the German physical theater company 'KimchiBrot Connection' will be performed. The work unravels nightmares and insomnia related to meritocracy through music and physical language.
On Sept. 4 (Wed) and 5 (Thu), PPF committee members Park Ho-bin, Lee Jun-ho, and Baek In-geun will conduct workshops based on their own movement methods. The results of the workshops will be presented as performances on stage.
Notably, this year's festival will see Thomas Stich, the artistic director of Germany's 'Full Spin International Physical Theater Festival,' and executive committee member director Elizabeth Hofmann visiting Korea. They will conduct a 'Mask Acting Workshop' alongside local mask theater expert Professor Baek Nam-young and also perform.
On Sept. 6 (Sat), the planned performance will feature the mask theater 'The Twelve Nights' (directed by Baek Nam-young), which won the grand prize, directing award, and best male actor award at the 35th Geochang International Theater Festival in 2025, and it will be performed in two rounds.
On Sept. 7 (Sun), the closing performance will showcase the movement theater work 'Proof.' 'Proof' is a piece that seeks to demonstrate what it means to be 'human' by corporealizing text, directed by actor Lee Ho-young, who is currently performing the role of 'Lord Wessex' in 'Shakespeare in Love' and is known for his strong acting skills, raising expectations.
Baek Nam-young, the executive chairman (a professor at Chung-Ang University), noted, "I hope that the 'Physical Performance Festival,' which aims to encourage various modes of expression based on the actors' bodies, will be of some help amid the homogenization of the domestic performance world."
[Photo] PPF
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