The 52^nd Dong-A Theater Awards

Best Production, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Audiovisual Design

The 8^th Korean Theater Awards

Best Production, Best Director, Best Actor

The 3 Best Productions of 2015

Selected by the International Association of Theater Critics-Korea

The 7 Best Productions of 2015

Selected by The Korean Theatre Review

Voted number 1 by audiences as ‘the most requested production at NTCK’

The Orphan of Zhao: Seeds of Revenge

The much-awaited production of The Orphan of Zhao: Seeds of Revenge by the National Theater Company of Korea returns for another season. This production has been acclaimed by both critics and audiences alike for its artistic merit, popular appeal and grandiose narrative—further complemented by director Koh Sun-woong’s quintessentially humorous and rhythmic approach. Many from the original cast—including Ha Sung-kwang who previously overwhelmed the audience with his gripping portrayal of Cheng Ying—will be joined by several new faces this year.  

Won the hearts of Chinese audiences with a Chinese story at a Chinese theater!

- Yang Shen (Chinese playwright & director)

In October 2016, the NTCK brought The Orphan of Zhao: Seeds of Revenge to the National Theatre of China in Beijing. In the country of the original playwright, Junxiang Ji, the performance drew tears and laughter from some 1,300 people in the audience. As the curtain fell, they burst into applause, marking the birth of a timeless masterpiece at the hands of the Korean cast and crew. This new interpretation of the beloved Chinese play is set to continue its inspiring journey in 2020—beyond China’s 1.3 billion population.

Synopsis

Let us not cause or face misfortunes, but only seek peace.

Life is short. May you live with ease and happiness.

Blinded by his greed for power, General Tu’an Gu is bent on destroying his rival, Zhao Dun, and exterminating the Zhao family. In a cruel twist of fate, the physician Cheng Ying, a retainer to the Zhao family, sacrifices his own son and wife to save Zhao Dun’s grandson. He names  the Zhao orphan Cheng Bo, and raises him as his own. Then, General Tu’an Gu adopts the Zhao orphan, unaware of his true identity. Twenty years later, when Cheng Bo reaches maturity, Cheng Ying tells him about the tragic events in the past and asks him to avenge his family. 

Original play by Junxiang Ji

The Yuan Dynasty playwright Junxiang Ji wrote The Orphan of Zhao in the form of zaju drama, based on historical narratives. Of the six zaju plays he wrote, The Orphan of Zhao is the only surviving example. Highly lauded as ‘one of the most powerful tragedies to be shared with audiences worldwide’ in the long history of Chinese drama, it is often dubbed ‘Hamlet of the East’ in the West. Various adaptation of the play have been performed around the world.

Adapted and directed by Koh Sun-woong

Renowned for his unique style, Ko Sung-woong founded the theater troupe Play Factory Mabangzen in 2005. He has written and directed Killbeth, Hongdo, The Stainless-Steel King, and Lucky Man Show among many others. In 2011, he swept numerous theatrical awards for On an Azure Day—a vivacious take on the tragedy of the May 18 Democratization Movement. Koh has firmly established himself as one of the most celebrated directors in Korea, working across different genres. His credits include musicals The Sorrows of Young Werther and Arirang, traditional Korean operas Mr. Heungbo and Madam Ong, and operas 1945 and Macbeth. His production of The Orphan of Zhao: Seeds of Revenge with the National Theater Company of Korea in 2015 was a huge success with critics and audiences alike. He directed the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2018 PyeongChang  Paralympic Winter Games.