Renovated Haeoreum Grand Theater at the National Theater of Korea. Courtesy of NTOK

The National Theater of Korea (NTOK)’s Haeoreum Grand Theater on Namsan in central Seoul made a triumphant return to the public in September following a four-year renovation – the first since its founding in 1973.

Everything from the stage and seats to the sound system and the lobby was subject to a renovation aimed at allowing visitors to better enjoy both the traditional Korean and contemporary performances presented.

Enhancing both the natural and electronic sounds carried by the theater’s audio system was a major focus of the renovation. For example, its 132 newly installed speakers form an “Immersive Sound System” that allows music and sound to travel evenly and vibrantly throughout the hall. It also boasts a longer reverberation time – sound duration was extended from 1.35 seconds to 1.65 seconds.

To optimize the experience, the blind spots that once obstructed views from some sections were removed by reducing the width of the theater’s stage from 22.4 meters to 12.6 meters and the number of seats from 1,563 to 1,221.

The newly reopened Haeoreum Grand Theater recently presented “Ultraworld” by the German theater group Volksbühne am Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz from November 25 to 27.

Directed by Susanne Kennedy, the play tells the story of Frank, a digital avatar trapped inside a virtual reality. Through flashy and immersive visual effects that fill the entire stage, the show brings the audience directly into the world of a computer game. “Ultraworld” poses meaningful questions about the existence of human beings: As Frank tries to escape his fate – stuck in a dead-end routine and tested over and over by players – some theatergoers may come to identify with his plight before the end.

It was the first time since the Theatre de la Ville de Paris performed “Rhinoceros” in 2016 that the NTOK invited a troupe from overseas. Orchestral, choral and pansori performances by Korean artists round out Haeoreum Grand Theater’s 2021-22 season.

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