For five days from July 25 to 30, youthful enthusiasm never waned at the Minsong Art Hall in Daehak-ro (Jongno-gu). In the heat of the 14th Seoul Youth Theater Festival 2023, many youths showcased their talents. Beyond simple ranking competitions, teenagers enjoyed the theater festival as a platform to unleash their hidden potential. Already celebrating its 14th year, the youth theater festival responds to the students' enthusiasm by preparing diverse programs, including special lectures and celebratory performances. Although it is a youth theater festival, it has dealt with high expectations and positive responses from many in the public, thanks to the quality and the passion of students that rival professional theater productions.
Prize Winning Works
We introduce the works that got widespread acclaim and secured awards after intense competition, triumphing over the competition of 10 different clubs, at this year's Seoul Youth Theater Festival.
- Best Group Award: Real Yeonglae, Jamil high school
- Excellent work Award: Mafia, Sungnam high school / The Month of Youth: 5.18, Seoul Visual Media high school
- Special Award: Green, Hyesung girls’ high school
Ancillary Programs
The "Seoul Youth Theater Festival," organized by the Seoul Theater Association, offers various ancillary programs to enhance the potential of teenagers and promote their development.
Special Lectures: Through actor Hong Seung-gyun's talk concert and a lecture by Professor Ha Kyung-hwa, the audience had the opportunity to hear of experiences in the arts field from current professors and actors.
Competition - Participation of numerous high school theater teams from Seoul
Interview
The Month of Youth: 5.18, by Seoul Visual Media high school ‘Space’
In the background of Gwangju, during the 5.18 Democracy Movement, this play depicts the brave cries and heartfelt love stories of the young people who lived through that era. Beginning with the fervent protest slogans of the students, the play evokes a moving feeling in the audience, serving as a reminder of our history that is worth remembering.
1. May I ask why you chose this theme for this play?
- Oh Yu-kyung (Director): We were approached by the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs and the Youth Culture Center to create a play related to the events of May 18th. This opportunity led us to determine the direction for this play.
2. Were there specific aspects you focused on when creating this play?
- Oh Yu-kyung (Director) & Park Yu-na (Seon-yeong): Given that many who experienced those events are still alive and that we were dealing with actual history, we made efforts to structure the play in a way that wouldn't harm anyone. Initially, we thought about simply presenting a quick overview of the history, but considering the opinions of various teachers and friends, we endeavored to deliver the content with a more responsible attitude.
3. If there is someone who aspires to pursue a career in acting, such as in theater or film, could you share what motivated you to dream in this field?
- Park Yu-na (Seon-yeong): In my second year of middle school, I saw Ok Joo-hyun perform in a musical and was captivated by the charm of musicals. This led me to develop a dream in acting. While exploring various ways to fulfill my dream, I became interested in directing as well. When I saw that our high school had a theater club dedicated to creating plays professionally, I applied and have been nurturing my dream since then.
4. If you were to select a memorable line from the play The Month of Youth: 5.18 what would it be?
- Kim Ye-rang (Seon-hee): "Over there, Ji-hoon and my friends are out there risking their lives, fighting." These are the words Seon-hee says to her parents, who are trying to stop her from leaving the house to save her friends. This line reveals why Seon-hee must go outside despite the danger of death.
- Oh Yoo-kyung & Park Yu-na: "Did the sky hear our voices?" "May next year be blue..." It's the content of the letter left for Seon-young, the girl Ji-hoon had crushed on, after leading the student protest at the forefront and being fatally shot by the police. We think these lines represent the theme of the play. During that time, due to media cut off, there was mistrust and misunderstanding from people outside the region. Nevertheless, even in the face of society's rejection, Ji-hoon's determination to secure a better future and protect democracy is evident.
Four Life Pictures by Seoul Sangam high school ‘Flat’
It's a story where the main character, who meets a sudden death, experiences the lives of various individuals they had envied before their own demise. Through this, she comes to realize the significance of the life she was living, as well as the importance of the people around them who supported that life.
1. During the preparation for the play, do you have any particularly memorable episodes?
-Rather than pointing out a specific episode, what stands out in our memory is the atmosphere where we continuously supported and encouraged each other during rehearsals. Moreover, given the tight schedule we had for preparation, we remember being very grateful to our team for maintaining enthusiasm despite the tight timeline.
2. Throughout your involvement in the theater club, have you personally gained any insights?
- I think I learned a sense of responsibility. Leading a play with a specific role allowed me to learn both personal responsibility and the responsibility as a member of the team.
3. So, can I understand that your feelings while participating in this festival's competition were somewhat similar?
- Yes, that seems like a similar context. I realized that it is more challenging for us to lead a large group than we expected. Fortunately, the results were quite impressive, even more so than we had expected or worked for, and it pleasantly surprised all the team members.
4. If you were to choose a memorable line from the play "Four Life Pictures” what would it be?
- "This is not what I want" is a line we'd like to choose. The main character changed his choice continually. This line represents the part of the character's regret, showing a sharp contrast in what they desired and what they ended up with. We think it is the most standout line in the play.
The 2023 14th Seoul Youth Theater Festival was filled with the passion and youthfulness of the students. Their burning efforts, working in harmony with their friends and teachers to achieve their dreams, made them shine brighter on the stage than anyone else. The festival itself, where numerous talents move forward to their dreams, is truly touching. Why don’t you visit this annual festival and experience that sense of awe and inspiration next year?