Walls

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s drama “Iphigenia in Tauris” depicts the historic, religious and social determinacy of humans and their attempt to escape from it – surmounting obstacles within and outside themselves. “Walls – Iphigenia in Exile” was a contemporary version of the play with a German-Korean perspective. The new version was a continuation of several years of collaboration between German and Korean theatre artists, originally initiated by the Goethe-Institut. Four Korean directors and one German director interpreted one act each, while two playwrights from Germany and South Korea were responsible for writing and incorporating new texts into the play.
In Goethe’s classical drama, Iphigenia is exiled in the politically and geographically isolated Tauris. Using Goethe’s text as a basis, “Walls” examined the concept of new and old, imposed and self-determined boundaries. Both industrial nations of South Korea and Germany have experienced division and walls. Despite their prosperity, there are tendencies in both countries to erect walls against immigrants. Who are we keeping out, and who are we imprisoning? It also touches on the timeless questions of inclination and obligation, and truth and deception. The play has been performed bilingually by a German-Korean ensemble and premiered in Seoul. Afterwards, the play has been shown to German audiences as a repertory production at the Deutsches Theater in Berlin.

Artistic directors: Sonja Anders, Jungung Yang (KR)
Stage directors: Kon Yi (KR), Jungung Yang (KR), Kyungsung Lee (KR), ZinA Choi (KR), Tilmann Köhler
Set design: Karoly Risz
Video & Music: Daniel Hengst
Authors: Mario Salazar, ZinA Choi (KR), Kon Yi (KR), Kyungsung Lee (KR)
Dramaturgy: Ulrich Beck, Danbi Yi (KR)
Production manager: Ulrich Beck, HeeJin Lee (KR)
Actors: Dakyung Yoon (KR), Hyun Jun Ji (KR), Kotti Yun (D/KR), Helmut Mooshammer, Sabine Waibel