The acclaimed stage production of "Life of Pi" has made its Korean debut this week, marking the first time the award-winning show has been performed in a language other than English. The Korean-language version opened at the GS Arts Center in Gangnam, Seoul, bringing the story of survival and imagination to local audiences through Korean actors and cultural interpretation.
"The moment I first saw the production, I couldn't help but think that it needed to be performed in Korean with Korean actors, because I believed the philosophical messages embedded in this work would resonate far more deeply with audiences when delivered in Korean and through our own performers," said Shin Dong-won, chief producer at SCo, the Korean production company behind the adaptation.
Two accomplished actors share the demanding lead role of Pi in alternating performances. Park Jeong-min, known for his versatility in film and screen work, brings his acting prowess to the stage alongside Park Kang-hyun, who has established himself as one of Korea's most sought-after musical theater performers. Their collaboration represents a fusion of different performance backgrounds united for this unique theatrical experience.
The production deliberately defies traditional theatrical categorization, despite winning major honors in the play category at both the prestigious Laurence Olivier Awards and the Tony Awards. While local ticketing platforms continue to list the show under their musical theater sections, the Korean producing company refuses to classify it as either a conventional play or musical.
"While preparing this production, I realized it was nearly impossible to fit Life of Pi into the conventional definitions of a musical or a play as we know them," Shin explained. "The show brings together all aspects of live stagecraft to create a performance driven entirely by imagination and sensory experience. In that sense, it already existed outside established boundaries – and I felt we needed an entirely different set of criteria to define it."
Leigh Toney, the production's international director, describes the experience as transcending typical theatrical boundaries. "It's a sort of hyper theatrical experience," Toney said. "The video designed by Andrzej Goulding with Andrew Mackay composing the score is visually and aurally immersive, and I think that combination of all of those elements really elevates that storytelling."
At the center of the production's magic is Richard Parker, the Bengal tiger that serves as both Pi's companion and antagonist during their 227 days stranded at sea. The tiger puppet is operated by three performers working in full view of the audience, yet the illusion of a living, breathing creature never breaks throughout the performance. Each puppeteer takes responsibility for a different section of the tiger – controlling the head, heart, and hind legs respectively. For the Korean premiere, a total of nine skilled puppeteers have been trained to bring Richard Parker to life across different performances.
The innovative puppetry work in "Life of Pi" has earned unprecedented recognition in the theater world. In 2022, the Laurence Olivier Awards made history by presenting the honor for Best Supporting Actor to the seven actors who operate the tiger puppet – marking the first time a puppet-operating ensemble received such recognition. This groundbreaking acknowledgment highlighted the artistry and skill required for the complex puppet manipulation.
"To manipulate an object between three people at the same time requires a lot of connection, a lot of understanding of each other's rhythms, impulses, signals and breath, and coming together to create the same thing," explained Kate Rowsell, the associate movement and puppetry director, as she introduced the Korean puppetry team. "It takes a long time to learn, and so we spend a lot of time in connection games and team building."
The production draws its source material from Yann Martel's acclaimed 2001 novel "Life of Pi," which tells the extraordinary story of a 16-year-old Indian boy stranded on a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger for 227 days. This harrowing journey becomes a profound exploration of faith, survival instincts, and the nature of truth itself, as the young protagonist faces both physical and spiritual challenges in his fight for survival.
Since its world premiere in 2019 under the direction of Max Webster, "Life of Pi" has evolved into a global theatrical phenomenon. The production began its journey in London's West End before making a successful transition to Broadway, subsequently touring extensively throughout the United Kingdom, Ireland, and North America. The show has also captivated audiences in major cities across Canada, the United Arab Emirates, India, China, and Taiwan, building an international reputation for its innovative staging and powerful storytelling.
The story gained additional recognition through Ang Lee's 2012 film adaptation of the same title, which earned the renowned director an Academy Award for Best Director. However, the stage version offers a distinctly different experience, utilizing live performance techniques that create an entirely unique interpretation of Martel's novel.
The Korean edition of "Life of Pi" will run for an extended period through March 2, 2026, at the GS Arts Center in Gangnam, Seoul, giving audiences ample opportunity to experience this groundbreaking production. Ticket prices range from 60,000 won to 160,000 won, making the show accessible to a broad range of theatergoers interested in witnessing this fusion of international theatrical innovation and Korean artistic interpretation.
