The bustling shopping district of Myeong-dong in Seoul is witnessing the revival of street theater through a new weekly performance series launched by the National Theater Company of Korea. Every Wednesday at noon, the outdoor plaza of the National Theater Company's Myeongdong Theater transforms into an open-air stage, bringing live performances directly to one of the city's most crowded areas where approximately 70,000 to 80,000 people pass through daily.
The initiative, called "Midday Theater in Myeong-dong," represents an effort to revive street theater, a performance genre that has largely disappeared from Korea since the 1990s. By utilizing Myeong-dong's unique location as a major commercial hub, the National Theater Company aims to make theater more accessible to the general public and turn the shopping district into festival grounds through these free outdoor performances.
The program features an impressive variety of performance styles, ranging from traditional Korean madanggeuk (yard theater) to modern forms including puppetry, circus acts, contemporary circus, street dance, and mime performances. This diverse lineup ensures that audiences can experience different artistic expressions each week, showcasing both Korea's traditional performing arts heritage and contemporary creative works.
The series officially began with a circus performance by the group Force, setting the stage for an exciting lineup of upcoming shows. Scheduled performers include Odongnamu Happening presenting puppetry, Pink Socks Theater Company offering a marionette play, and Baekssoang Factory performing mime theater. Additional acts feature Creation Group Irum with a vertical dance piece, contemporary circus performances by Codessey and White Cube Project, breaking street theater by Aaron Crew, circus works by 64J, and traditional performances by Liquid Sound.
Each Wednesday performance is designed to be accessible and convenient for passersby, with shows lasting between 30 to 60 minutes. The performances are completely free of charge and require no advance reservations, allowing anyone to simply stop by the plaza at noon to enjoy the show. The program will continue running weekly through October, though organizers have noted that there will be no performance during the week of Chuseok, Korea's major autumn holiday.
While the outdoor setting adds to the authentic street theater experience, organizers have acknowledged that weather conditions may affect the schedule. Performances may be suspended or canceled in the event of heavy rain, though the program is designed to proceed rain or shine whenever possible, maintaining the spontaneous and accessible nature that defines street theater.
