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| Cast members Lauren Ash-Morgan, left, and Jamie Horan rehearse for SSC's upcoming production of "The Winter's Tale." / Courtesy of Robert Michael Evans |
By John Redmond
The Seoul Shakespeare Company (SSC) will present "The Winter's Tale" at Theater Egg and Nucleus in Daehangno, nonortheast Seoul, from April 15 to 30.
William Shakespeare's masterpiece of reconciliation and forgiveness is directed by Michael Downey.
"Our next production is one of Shakespeare's greatest plays: the tragi-comedy and late romance play The Winter's Tale ― a story of jealousy, loss, redemption, forgiveness, and reunion," states a press email.
The basic plot of "The Winter's Tale" is taken from Robert Greene's pastoral romance "Pandosto" published in 1588.
"Shakespeare's changes to the plot are uncharacteristically slight, especially in light of the romance's undramatic nature, and Shakespeare's fidelity to it gives The Winter's Tale its most distinctive feature: the 16-year gap between the third and fourth acts."
Formed in 2010, the SSC is an all-volunteer theater company that brings Shakespeare's works to Seoul audiences in English with Korean subtitles.
The company typically produces one major show per year in Seoul's theater district of Daehangno, with smaller fundraising events throughout the year as well as acting workshops that are open to the community.
Performance times are April 15, 22 and 29 at 7 p.m. and April 16, 23 and 30 at 4 p.m.
The approximate running time is three hours including a 15-minute intermission.
Regular ticket prices are 25,000 won and for students 20,000 won. High school and university students must show their student ID card at the performance.
Ticket payments must be in cash at the performance, as the theater is not equipped with a card reader. The only exception is for large groups, which have the option of pre-paying by bank transfer if they wish.
Ticket reservations for each show will close the midnight before the show.
Door sales are also available, beginning one hour before the show. For sold-out performances, a waitlist will be started in the theater lobby one hour prior to the show.
Those with reservations must arrive at least 10 minutes before the performance to claim their seats, as unclaimed seats will be made available to people on the waitlist.
Seating will begin approximately 30 minutes before each performance as there is no assigned seating.
This show is appropriate for all ages.
There will also be a talk-back with the audience after the April 16 and 23 shows. Student groups are highly recommended to attend one of these days to participate in the talk-back.
Block bookings are available for school groups at the student discount rate which will also apply to adults in the group.
Visit seoulshakespearecompany.org or facebook.com/seoulshakespeare for more information and ticket reservations.
To get to Theater Egg and Nucleus, leave exit 2 of Hyehwa Station on Line 4. Turn left at the first road (at the Dunkin Donuts) and walk for about a block. The theater will be on your left.
