By Chung Ah-young
Staff Reporter

Uijeongbu, a northeast suburb of Seoul, is often regarded as on the fringe of the mainstream culture in the capital city. However, every May, Uijeongbu in Gyeonggi Province is crowded with people both from the neighborhood and other regions to see the annual distinguished musical theatre performances.

The Uijeongbu Music Theater Festival (UMTF), which marks its eighth year since its inception in 2002 as an international performing arts festival, will take place from May 1 to 16.

The festival features a variety of performances from both home and abroad, including world renowned indoor and street theaters which all use music and sound as a central element.

Rhee Jin-bae, executive director of the festival, said that this year is designed to draw more of a general audience from outside the region with diverse programs.

``Uijeongbu is not an outsider from the mainstream cultural center of Seoul anymore. I believe the region can also become a cultural venue as we've hosted various high-profile performances that can attract many visitors for many years,'' Rhee told reporters in a press conference Tuesday.

He said the festival is extending its free programs to help visitors, who are suffering from economic difficulty, better enjoy the event.

The festival presents 11 officially invited performances ― six foreign productions and five Korean productions ― and 60 fringe ones along with the international symposiums, workshops and exhibitions.

Given the economic slump, about 80 percent of the performances are free, up from around 70 percent last year.

``We are not expecting high profits this year because many of the shows are free. Some performances, such as the closing show `Macbeth,' are, in fact, expensive. But the show is available free of charge for all participants who can enjoy it outdoors,'' said Rhee.

Lee Seung-yeop, the artistic director, said this year's line-up is not only artistic but also popular and easy for the audience. ``This year, we've chosen more festive and interesting productions rather than experimental ones,'' said Lee.

For the opening performance, ``Loft'' will be presented by the Montreal-based Seven Fingers of the Hand. In the show, DJ Pocket, a renowned DJ, from Montreal orchestrates variations from classical to jazz to hip hop to tango and the seven members of the cast present exciting performances individually and as a group.

The show with Barbie dolls, towels and soaps, objects normally expected in a loft reminds the audience, young and old, of their school days. A video projection specifically produced for the acclaimed multimedia performance provides synergy with the music and cast members.

The show will be staged at 8 p.m. on May 1 and at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. on May 2, at the Grand Theater of Uijeongbu Arts Center. Tickets cost 20,000 to 40,000 won.

Among the foreign productions, ``Field'' (Australia) presented by Strange Fruit, a Melbourne-based performing arts company, is a distinguished show originally based on the image of a field of wheat swaying in the breeze.

Perched atop four-meter-high poles, the troupe delivers a sublime performance, bending and swaying in the air, captivating and engaging the audience. The eight actors sway back and forth in a hypnotizing dance as the audience looks up in wonder. ``Field'' will be performed 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. on May 2, in the parking lot of the center. Admission is free.

The closing performance, ``Macbeth ― Who Is That Bloodied Man?'' (Poland) is a work to celebrate 20 years of diplomatic relations between South Korea and Poland by Biuro Podrozy, the representative Polish theater company as an outdoor adaptation of Shakespeare's tragedy, ``Macbeth.'' The audience will be thrilled with the breathtaking scenes where the troupe's stilt-walking actors hover over fire and the solemn music, and roaring motorbikes chase one after another. The performance will be at 8:30 p.m. on May 15 and at 8:30 p.m. on May 16, at the Public Square in front of the Uijeongbu City Hall. Admission is free.

``The Convent'' (Norway) creates a unique stage language adopting the element of rhythm in language into theater in collaboration with the Norwegian National Theater and the BIT, Bergen International Theater Garage. In this work, language is not a text to be delivered, but consists of utterances taking their bearings from a Swiss-German dialect that falls into gibberish. The rhythm of the language creates a certain beauty, in harmony with polyphonic a cappella songs and Mozart's music. The show is to be staged at 6 p.m. on May 5, and at 8 p.m. on May 6 at the Small Theater of the center. Tickets cost 20,000 won.

Among Korean works, ``The Second World: Sleeping Town'' which has been selected for the multimedia music theater competition is one of the shows not to be missed.

In this work, computer sensors and cameras simultaneously record and transform dialogue and actions performed by the actors on stage into the form of sounds and images for the audience.

The program interacts with changes made by the actors, thus allowing the stage to be filled with new creations constantly, not with things already made. This sense of ``presence'' created by the interactivity invites the audience to experience the performances, not by merely viewing the show. The performance presents not only technical effects but also an interesting story. It will be shown at 5 p.m. on May 2 and at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. on May 3, at the Small Theater of the center. Tickets cost 20,000 won.

Also, ``A Music Box From Vienna,'' ``Alice Project,'' ``Traditional Korean Songs, Dances and Music for Family,'' and ``Hedwig and the Angry Inch'' will be on stage during the festival.

For more information, visit www.umtf.or.kr.

chungay@koreatimes.co.kr