Jo Sungha and Shim Eunkyung to Star in National Theater Company’s "Banya Ajae"... Lee Seojin and Go Ahsung for LG Arts Center

National Theater Company of Korea and LG Arts Center to Stage Chekhov's Masterpiece in May

Jo Sungha and Lee Seojin. Shim Eunkyung and Go Ahsung.

They are the lead actors who will star in Anton Chekhov's "Uncle Vanya," which will be jointly presented by the National Theater Company of Korea and LG Arts Center in May. On the 19th, the National Theater Company of Korea announced that actor Jo Sungha will play the male lead Ivan Voynitsky (nicknamed Vanya), and Shim Eunkyung will play the female lead Sofya Alexandrovna (nicknamed Sonya). Lee Seojin and Go Ahsung will play the same roles in the LG Arts Center's programmed production of Uncle Vanya.

Actors Jo Sungha (left) and Shim Eunkyung will appear in the National Theater Company of Korea's play 'Banya Ajae', which will be staged in May at the Haeoreum Theater of the National Theater. [Photo by National Theater Company of Korea]

"Uncle Vanya" is one of the four major plays by Anton Chekhov, who brought the golden age of Russian literature to a close. Vanya and his niece Sonya are characters who have spent their entire lives managing a rural estate. The owner of the estate is Professor Serebryakov, Vanya's brother-in-law and Sonya's father. In the play, Vanya's sister and Sonya's mother, the wife of Professor Serebryakov, is already deceased. One day, Professor Serebryakov returns to the estate with his young new wife, Yelena Andreyevna, and this sends ripples through the previously monotonous daily lives of Vanya and Sonya.

The National Theater Company of Korea will present the play under the Koreanized title "Banya Ajae" at the Haeoreum Theater of the National Theater of Korea from May 22 to 31.

The characters' names in the play will also be changed into Korean-style names. Jo Sungha, who plays Vanya, will appear under the character name Park Ibo. Shim Eunkyung, a 23-year veteran actress who plays the original Sonya role, will play Seo Eunhee. The role of Seo Byunghu (Professor Serebryakov) will be played by Nam Myungryul, and the role of Oh Youngran (Yelena) will be played by Lim Kanghee. In addition, Son Sook, Ki Joobong, Kim Seungdae, and Ahn Haeil will appear.

The production will be directed by Jo Gwanghwa, who has created box-office hits such as "Man's Impulse," "Crazy Kiss," "Dyohwa Manbal," and "Faust Ending."

LG Arts Center will stage its production under the title "Uncle Vanya" from May 7 to 31 at the LG Arts Center Signature Hall.

Actor Lee Seojin, who has long been loved across dramas, films, and variety shows, will take on the role of Vanya, making his first-ever attempt at a theater production in the 27 years since his debut. The role of Sonya will be played by Go Ahsung, who has built a wide acting spectrum through films such as "The Host," "Snowpiercer," and "Samjin Company English Class." This will also be Go Ahsung's first theater challenge since her debut. The role of Professor Serebryakov will be played by Kim Soohyun, and the role of Yelena will be played by Lee Hwajeong.

Actor Son Sangkue will direct Uncle Vanya. Son Sangkue made a successful directorial debut with the play "The Lives of Others," performed at LG Arts Center in 2024.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.