The Dresser(더 드레서)

The Dresser(더 드레서)

- Address : 서울특별시 중구 정동길 43 (정동) 국립정동극장


※ Presentation Information
- Age Limit
7 years old or older

- Event Date
20241008 ~ 20241103

- Location
Jeongdong Theater, 43, Jeongdong-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul

- Event Duration
100 minutes

- Sponsor
(재)국립정동극장

- Co-Sponsor
쇼틱씨어터컴퍼니

- Co-Sponsor Phone
02-751-1500



- Programs
* The show has closed.


The Dresser is captivating in every aspect. It's a play by Ronald Harwood, a British playwright who has worked in both theater and film. He wrote The Dresser based on his experience as a costume director for a theater company over five years. The play was adapted into a film in 1984 and won the Silver Bear Award at the Berlin International Film Festival.

Set in a rural English theater during World War II, the story follows the "Teacher", an aging actor performing King Lear for the 227th time, and Norman, his dresser, who has been preparing his costumes for 16 years. The play faces a crisis when the "Teacher" begins to act strangely, and an air raid siren sounds.

Their relationship mirrors the dynamics of life itself – both in front of and behind the stage, in light and shadows. Above all, the talented cast x_heightens the tension through their acting. Actor Song Seung-hwan, who also produced NANTA, returns to his roots to play the aging Shakespearean actor, while Oh Man-seok, known for his work in both theater and drama, and Kim Da-hyun, who portrayed North Korean military agent Bae Jae-hak in Moving, a Disney+ original series, take on the role of Norman, the dresser. The play is directed by Jang Yoo-jeong, a renowned playwright and director who worked in both film and musical theater.

◎ Nearby Tourism Infobox

⊙ Jeongdong Theater (국립 정동극장)

- Homepage
www.jeongdong.or.kr

- Tel
+82-2-751-1500

Jeongdong Theater is located along Deoksugung Stone Wall Path and serves as a cultural hub for local citizens. Opened in 1995, Jeongdong Theater is historically significant as it was established to restitute the legacy of Wongaksa, the first modern theater in Korea. Jeongdong Theater features numerous critically-acclaimed productions, such as “Traditional Art Performance,” “Masters Exhibition,” and “Art Frontier,” as well as programs like “Art Stage at Noon” that are geared toward the general public. As a result, Jeongdong Theater has become one of Korea's representative traditional arts performance theaters and was designated as a Seoul Future Heritage in 2015.

The theater successfully held the performance “Miso” in 2010, featuring the traditional musical "Love Songs from Chunhyang," written and created by Jeongdong Theater. The musical attracted many international visitors from all over the world, passing on Korean cultural values and beauty, as well as gaining the attention of critics worldwide. In addition, the theater also produced "The 2nd Story of Miso: Baebijang-jeon," offering a modern interpretation of the fundamental values found in Korea's culture and art.

⊙ Chungdong First Methodist Church (서울 정동교회)

- Homepage
www.chungdong.org (Korean only)

- Tel
+82-2-753-0001

Chungdong Church, having being completed in 1897, was the first Christian church that was built after the spread of Protestantism in Korea. The church was founded in 1887 as a small worship house under the name Bethel by Henry Gerhard Appenzeller, an American missionary. As the number of followers increased, the building underwent construction and officially became a church in 1895. Chungdong Church is the only remaining church building from the 19th century. The church was expanded once more in 1926, changing its from a cross-shaped building to a square one. The expansion was made by adding walls using bricks as not to damage the original building structure. The architecture was built in a simplified version of an American gothic house with arched window frames.

⊙ Jungmyeongjeon Hall (중명전)

- Homepage
https://royal.khs.go.kr/ROYAL/contents/menuInfo-dsg.do?grpCode=dsg

- Tel
+82-2-752-7525

Located near Deoksugung Palace, Jungmyeongjeon Hall is a red-brick modern Western-style building. It was built in 1899 as the imperial library of the Korean Empire. After Deoksugung Palace caught on fire in 1904, the place became the temporary residence of Emperor Gojong. It also witnessed the tragic part of history in which the infamous Eulsa Treaty (Japan-Korea Protectorate Treaty), an illegal treaty forced by Japan, was signed in 1905. Its exhibition hall serves as a place for historical education.

⊙ Ewha Centennial Hall (이화여고100주년기념관)

- Homepage
www.junggu.seoul.kr

Ewha Centennial Hall is a multimedia education center located next to Ewha Girls' High School. Spanning underground and five above-ground floors, it features a gallery, a cafe, music rooms, individual practice rooms, and audio-visual rooms. The Hwaham Hall on the first and second floors is utilized for performances such as musicals and concerts, as well as educational events.

⊙ National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Deoksugung [MMCA Deoksugung] (국립현대미술관 덕수궁)

- Homepage
www.mmca.go.kr

- Tel
+82-2-2022-0600

The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Deoksugung [MMCA Deoksugung] was originally built as an annex to the National Museum of Contemporary Art. The museum specializes in seeking out and researching modern art, exhibiting and preserving it, supporting and developing educational programs, and furthering publications and international exchanges. Located within Deoksugung Palace, the center maintains a unique traditional atmosphere. The museum planned and showcased a total of 38 unique exhibitions from 1998 to 2005. Besides the exhibitions, the center has various performances such as music and mime, as well as lectures or seminars on artists' works.

⊙ Deoksugung Stone Wall Path (덕수궁 돌담길)

- Homepage
https://royal.khs.go.kr/

The Deoksugung Stone Wall Path runs along the wall of Deoksugung Palace. It is beautifully lit and landscaped, giving it a romantic atmosphere even at night. There are street performances and flea markets, and the area boasts many famous cafes and restaurants along Jeongdong street. In autumn, the ginkgo trees and walls form a stunning scene. Close to major cultural facilities such as the Seoul Museum of Art and Seoul Museum of History, it attracts numerous visitors come for a stroll.

⊙ Deoksugung Palace (덕수궁)

- Homepage
royal.khs.go.kr

- Tel
+82-2-771-9951

Registered as a Historic Site, Deoksugung Palace was initially not a royal palace, but the residential home of Grand Prince Wolsan (1454-1488), the older brother of King Seongjong (1469-1494) of the Joseon dynasty. It wasn't until 1593 that the palace was used as a temporary palace of the royal family after their home was burned down during the Imjin War. King Seonjo also stayed at Deoksugung Palace after returning to the city. It became a proper palace when Gwanghaegun (1575-1641) ascended to the throne and gave this royal residence the name Gyeongungung Palace in 1611. Over the following decades, the palace alternated between being an official palace and a temporary residence. The name did not change officially to Deoksugung Palace, meaning the “palace of virtuous longevity,” until 1907. While the palace once encompassed a vast area with many buildings, the current palace grounds are just a small shadow of the prior splendor, with very few structures remaining.

⊙ Seoul Museum of Art (서울시립미술관(서소문본관))

- Homepage
sema.seoul.go.kr

- Tel
+82-2-2124-8800

The Seoul Museum of Art (SeMA) is a space for all to meet and experience the joy of art. Located in the center of Jeong-dong, a district that retains traces of Seoul’s modern and contemporary history, the museum integrates the historical facade of the former Supreme Court with modern architecture. In addition to various programs―encompassing exhibitions, educational outreach initiatives, screenings, workshops, performances, and talks, communal spaces including SeMA Cafe, the artbook store, the open space lobby, and the outdoor sculpture park SeMA WALK provide a rich range of ways for visitors to experience art.

⊙ Jeongdong Culture Festival (정동문화축제)

- Homepage
business.khan.co.kr

- Tel
+82-2-3701-1603

Jeongdong Culture Festival brings an autumn ambience to Jeongdong-gil in Jung-gu, Seoul. The festival aims to promote the attractions within the area through various events and exhibitions.



This work was created by the Korea Tourism Organization for 25 years and opened as the first type of public Nuri. You can download it for free from the Korea Tourism Organization, https://kto.visitkorea.or.kr/eng.kto