© Jang Seok hyun

Elephants Laugh – MULJIL

(Seoul/South Korea)

On Jeju Island, elderly women free dive into deep waters to collect shells every day. While drawing inspiration from these haenyeo (sea women) who flirt with death on a daily basis, Elephants Laugh talks about fear, danger, welcoming, sharing, thanks to the vertically placed windows on the ground, with water to the brim or almost.
Submerged actors, inert bodies, flowing clothes and hair, come to life, little by little. When a group of volunteers comes closer to observe them, then tries to join them, another metaphor pops up: what does accepting others into one’s world entail ? Do we have enough space to live together ? Will we survive or drown?

With a completely different apprehension from our viewpoints as Europeans, MULJIL approaches the notion of community, without filter but with limitless poetry. Disturbing.

With an approach that is both sensitive and committed, Elephants Laugh has been constantly questioning the system that surrounds it since its creation in 2009. With him, theater is militant and rooted in reality, performances are interactive and audiences are active. Whether it’s “Bodies in the Dark”, which focuses on the conditions of self-censorship, or “Nothing To See Here”, written with the blind, his aim is to sharpen the audience’s gaze, encouraging them to reflect on today’s society.

Directeur : Jinyeob Lee.
Texte : Jaeuk Shin. Avec : Kwanghyun Ma, Youjin Na, Jaeho Lee, Aeri Lee, Joonbong Kim. Création lumière : Hayoung Jeong. Création son : Jimmy Sert. Costumes : Gyonginn Kim. Régisseur : Wonsuk Choi. Production : Bongmin Choi.

Fonds Commissionné par : le Festival des arts de la rue d’Ansan, le Centre de création des arts de la rue de Séoul. Soutenu par : Korea Foundation for International Cultural Exchange (KOFICE). Associé avec : Producer Group DOT.