Ah! Surajang, a festival of water

On the Chuncheon’’s main street, people enjoy performances, indulge in festivities, and splash water everywhere from a giant stream prepared for the festival. Ah! Surajang, with its interactive performances and parades, has established itself as the festival’’s main program. Water is the theme of Ah! Surajang, reflecting the identity of the lake city of Chuncheon. This street madness, an embodiment of the dream to break away from the city, will render Chuncheon into a city of the arts with the primal, cleansing, purifying energy of water, the springlike energy of life and freshness, and the carnivalesque atmosphere of the Chuncheon International Mime Festival.

The Old King, a desperate struggle to make sense of human existence

For this year’’s opening theater performance, the festival invited les ballets C de la B to perform The Old King. The company is well known in Europe among the general public and artists alike. This will be their first time on stage in Asia. The performance expresses the bodily scream of the desperate search for the meaning of existence by a despot king who has lost his power with age.

Kamchatka Project, the second episode of Work in Chuncheon

As part of the Work in Chuncheon Project, Spanish street theatre company Kamchatka Project will hold an open workshop on migrar (immigration), followed by a street performance. First-time visitors to Korea, the Spanish actors collective will work with 25 Chuncheon citizens for three days to increase awareness of immigration, and the participants will learn theater techniques. After the workshop, they will take to the streets for the festival and walk slowly around Chuncheon to share their stories with everyone.

Three non-stop days of true madness, Dokkabi Nanjang and Friday Madness

The first outdoor performance festival in South Korea to ban the entrance of minors under 19, Friday Madness has been a huge sensation. Events will be held mostly inside the Chuncheon Children’s Center. The venue will be decorated as befits an adult-only event, and the night will be filled with unconventional performances by unconventional artists.

Dokkabi Nanjang will be held on the property of the Children’’s Center and around Waterfront Park. Participants will enjoy dynamic events on Friday night, including mimes, dances, music, performances, media, and installations. Saturday afternoon will be filled with exciting performances for children and families.

The Chuncheon International Mime Festival will be brought to a close with an indispensible part of the festival, the ceremonial fire. A giant pillar of fire will burn from 4am--5am as performers, the audience, and staff mingle around the fire with food, drinks, and entertainment.

- When: 12:00pm on Sunday, May 19--5:00am on Sunday, May 26

- Where: Various venues in the city of Chuncheon: Jungang-ro, Chuncheon Culture and Art Center, Festival Theater Momzit, Children’’s Center, and Waterfront Park

- Website: http://www.mimefestival.com

For questions, contact the Chuncheon International Mime Festival Office at +82 (0)33-242-0585 or lovemime@mimefestival.com