Veteran actors draw sold-out crowds for stage plays
Veteran actors aged 80 and over are making waves in the Korean theatrical circle, with their performances drawing sold-out crowds. The enduring appeal and talent of these seasoned performers, who seamlessly transition between the small screen and the stage, have brought plays to new heights of popularity here.
Leading the charge are Shin Goo, 87, and Park Geun-hyung, 83, who made the classic tragicomedy “Waiting for Godot” a great success, selling out all 50 shows since December.
The play revolves around two wanderers, Estragon (Shin) and Vladimir (Park), who endlessly wait for the elusive Godot. Premiered in Korea back in 1969, the Samuel Beckett play saw over 15,000 performances here.
The latest production sought to breathe new life into the classic by featuring veteran actors on stage. Another notable element was the casting of actor Park Jeong-ja, 81, for the role of porter Lucky, marking the first time a woman has taken on this role in Korea.
As for the popularity of the show, Shin said he could feel the difference. “When I first heard that the tickets
were sold out, I thought that it could be for the first few shows. Then I came to repeatedly hear it show after show. It was a great surprise. It is something I’ve never seen before,” he said in a recent interview with the media.
Park Geun-hyung echoed the sentiment of surprise and joy. “In my 65 years of acting career, this kind of experience is new. It feels like dreaming. Selling out all 50 shows is a history-making in the Korean theater industry. I’m happy that Shin and I stand at the center of it,” Park said.
To commemorate the occasion, actor-turned-Culture Minister Yu In-chon visited the National Theater of Korea on Sunday to congratulate the cast on its final performance of a successful run.
The play’s success was not limited to the traditional theatergoer demographic, attracting a diverse audience.
In Korea, people in their 20s and 30s are the most enthusiastic about theater, but “Waiting for Godot” saw a significant number of middle-aged viewers flocking to theaters to see these veteran actors live on stage. According to ticket sales data from Interpark, people in their 40s were the largest group of ticket buyers at 24.7 percent, followed closely by those in their 30s, 50s and 20s.
“As soon as the play started, I was so immersed in it, and I didn’t know how time passed until the curtain call. I wondered how those aged actors could emanate so much energy on stage,” an audience member said. “It was a sheer surprise to see those actors showing passionate performance during the full 150-minute running time.”
Recently, the trend of casting seasoned veteran actors in leading roles has significantly attracted theater audiences. Productions featuring these experienced performers have successfully broadened their appeal across a diverse age spectrum, leading to notable box office success.
Last year, plays like “Freud’s Last Session,” starring Shin, and “The Seagull” and “King Lear,” featuring 89-year-old Lee Soon-jae, ranked among the top ticket-sellers according to Korea Arts Management Service.