Eight Actors Play One Role on Stage! The Play 'Rosetta' Opens in August

An experimental play depicting the life of American missionary Rosetta Sherwood Hall, who left a mark on the history of modern medicine in Korea, will meet the audience. The striking direction, where eight actors take turns playing one protagonist role, is drawing attention.

The National Theater Company announced on the 24th that the play 〈Rosetta〉, co-planned with the National Asia Culture Center Foundation, will be performed at the National Theater Company Myeongdong Arts Theater in Seoul from the 23rd to the 31st of next month.

This work recreates the footsteps of Rosetta Sherwood Hall, who crossed over from America to Joseon in 1890, on stage. Rosetta is a figure who dedicated herself to the education and healthcare of Joseon women, establishing the first school for the blind in Korea, 'Pyeongyang Women's Blind School', and a women's treatment center, 'Gwanghye Women's Hospital', while standing against discrimination and prejudice.

The biggest feature of the work is that eight actors from Korea and the United States take turns playing the protagonist Rosetta. This reflects the philosophy of the American experimental theater group Living Theatre, which states that 'all actors are equally important'.

Living Theatre is known for its groundbreaking works that have resonated in the theater world and is also famous for being a group that has seen Hollywood stars like Al Pacino and Robert De Niro pass through. This performance will also see these groups participating in production collaboration.

The cast includes actor Kim Sung-ryung, who recently shone in the drama 〈Please Take Care of My Alcohol〉. Along with Brad Burgess and Emma Sue Harris from Living Theatre, Ko In-bae, Gyeon Min-seong, Won Gyeong-sik, Lee Gyeong-gu, and Kim Ha-ri will also take the stage.

The actors will perform in both Korean and English, realistically portraying the language barrier between the foreigner Rosetta and the Joseon people. Kim Jeong-han, who previously worked with Living Theatre, will take charge of the script and direction following the premiere.

〈Rosetta〉 is a work co-produced by the National Asia Culture Center, Living Theatre, and the domestic theater group Geukgongjakso Mabangjin, which premiered in early 2023. After the Seoul performance, it will be staged at the Busan Cinema Center from September 5 to 6, and will also have a guest performance at the Tottori Prefectural Torigin Cultural Center in Japan from the 27th to the 28th of the same month.