Veteran Actors Shin Goo, Park Geun-hyung Back Youth Theater Project in Seoul

"Theater is about people, and it’s our story," said 90-year-old actor Shin Goo, speaking April 7 to young actors gathered at Daehangno Arts Theater in Seoul.

He described theater as work that expresses what happens in relationships and stressed that the expression "must be honest." Without that, he said, the effort becomes meaningless, urging the actors to keep making strong work.

That day, 30 young actors in the Theater Tomorrow Project presented key scenes from three original productions: "Tandem," "The Birth of a Queen" and "Firdaus." The works were developed through training, creation and collaboration within the project. The productions are scheduled to meet audiences April 24-26 at Arko Dream Field Theater, and tickets sold out as soon as sales opened. 

The Theater Tomorrow Project began after veteran theater artists Shin Goo and Park Geun-hyung, 86, joined forces to pass on stage experience and know-how to younger performers. The two donated proceeds to the Arts Council Korea, known as ARKO, from a special benefit performance of the play "Waiting for Godot" in March last year, helping create the Theater Tomorrow Fund.

The project then moved into full operation. In early January, organizers held an open call and auditions and selected 30 young actors from 1,000 applicants. The group studied Park’s acting philosophy and stage experience through his master class, then went through directing workshops, actor training, creation and rehearsals before preparing to take the stage this month.  
 
Park said "Waiting for Godot," which he performed with Shin, drew enough love to sell out nationwide and made them feel they should do something more. He said the project now seems to have produced a small first result and asked ARKO to help ensure it continues rather than ending as a one-time effort. 

To keep supporting the project, the two veteran actors plan to appear in the play "The Merchant of Venice" in July, continuing their donations. A separate audition will be held for the 30 project participants, and selected actors will perform in "The Merchant of Venice" alongside Shin and Park. 

After watching the young actors, Shin said it felt like going back 60 years. "I was so flustered at my first performance that I can’t even remember how I got through it," he said. He added he was grateful younger performers now have a better environment for taking the stage than his generation did. 

Park said the present looks hopeful compared with a time when he felt they were searching for a path without light. But he warned that pursuing the work requires accepting financial hardship, adding, "Welcome to the hard road."  

Young artists said the project helped them grow. Actor Ahn Seung-gyun, who took part in "Tandem," said he came to realize "nothing can be done alone" and that the process of questioning, clashing and building the work together was a joy.  
 
Actor Ryu Ji-o, who appears in "The Birth of a Queen," said the key lesson was that people matter.

"I realized again that theater is made by rubbing shoulders with people," Ryu said. "I was happy to meet friends who share the same dream and to work closely with them."