Orange Polar Bear - a cross-cultural performance piece for teenagers in Seoul and Birmingham

Peter Wynne-Willson

Orange Polar Bear (2014-19) is an innovative bilingual theatre project created by Hanyong Theatre, the National Theatre Company of Korea and Birmingham Repertory Theatre. The main research aims were to develop a methodology for devising and presenting bilingual work in a way that maintains equality between collaborative partners, and, by focusing on the experience of teenagers in Seoul and Birmingham, to consider what young people can teach adults about bridging cross-cultural and language divisions. The research resulted in a novel methodology for devising bilingual theatre leading to a cross-cultural performance for young people in two languages, presented in the same form in South Korea and the UK. It was unique among Anglo-Korean collaborations for its focus on the experience of teenagers, and conscious balance of languages, cultures and practices. Additionally, the research demonstrates the value of adopting a child-led approach to creating cross-cultural theatre and has created new insights into long-term approaches to developing fair and equal cross-cultural partnerships.

HOME TIMELINE

Project Impact – Direct engagement with Orange Polar Bear

4,877 people saw the production in Seoul or Birmingham

86% attendance in The Door at the REP across 11 performances

100% attendance in Seoul at the National Theatre Company of Korea across 11 performances

24% of the UK audience identified as Black, Asian or Ethnic Minority

31% of the UK audience were first time attendees of the REP

49 British and Korean artists were involved with the project and its wrap-around activities of cultural exchange and learning.

1 special relaxed performance was given for 148 SEN students from James Brindley Schools in Birmingham.

1 BSL interpreted performance attracted a number of deaf audience members

844 young people and artists had a practical theatre experience linked to the themes of the show in Seoul and Birmingham.

380 school students from 19 schools across Birmingham who enjoyed a ticket and workshop package, with the practical work led by Applied Theatre final year students from Birmingham City University – the focus was on schools with low engagement with the arts bringing a high number of young first time attenders to the REP.

40 Applied Theatre students from BCU participated in a half-day workshop led by members of the international cast.

30 students from James Brindley Schools – a group of schools serving students with special educational needs with a high proportion of students with autism or learning disabilities – had a unique half day experience with the international cast, gaining an insight into the story of the play, the making of the work and developing their own practical theatre skills.

(The REP and James Brindley team had done much work in advance of our visit to prepare the students for their experience).

20 young people from Birmingham who have English as a second language or who speak two or more languages participated in an intensive one week half term residency on multilingual theatre, led by specialist Daniel Tyler and assisted by acclaimed East Asian artist Mei Mac and by Birmingham spoken word artist Lady Sanity. They created and performed a 15 minute curtain raiser theatre piece and collaborated with film maker Jay Landell.

121 people attended the Symposium on Multilingual Theatre produced in collaboration with Birmingham City University and Creative Multilingualism (University of Oxford)

119 people attended one of the post-show discussions with the cast and creatives

18 young emerging black actors [Lightpost Theatre] participated in a half day workshop with the cast and creatives hosted at DanceXchange.

Project Reach and Impact – Sharing of Process

Sharing of Work in Progress 1 [July 2016] ACE Dance Studios, Birmingham, presentation and discussion with delegates from ‘On The Edge’ International Meeting. 65 delegates, practitioners and academics present. Hosted by ASSITEJ UK.

Sharing of Work in Progress 2 [September 2016] 11 Performances of Korean work in progress versionversion of Orange Polar Bear total audience 3300

NTCK TYA Research Centre Symposium [August 2016] Panel discussion for teachers, academics and practitioners 84 present, after performance.

Korean Symposium - Oct 17^th 2018 NTCK Seoul, panel discussion for teachers academics and practitioners 84 present, after performance.

Making Multi-Lingual Theatre [Birmingham Rep 30^th Nov 2018] Presentation by PWW as part of twilight session for Creative Multilingualism.

Performing Languages Conference BCU Presentation by PWW and Panel discussions, Creative Multilingualism Conference [BCU 1^st/2^nd Feb 2019]

Different Stages: Exploring Public Engagement [BMI March 2020] Presentation by PWW for early career researchers,.

Publications

The Third Space: Inter-Cultural Youth Performance as a Catalyst for Change. Choi Young Ai In: Theatre, Performance and Change. [Palgrave Macmillan 2018]

JiYoung and William. Fifteen: Korea-UK Theatre Collaboration. [NTCK-TYA Research Centre. 2014]

Transcultural Collaboration and Inter-Racial Casting in the South Korean Theatre by Yoon Soo Ryon in Palgrave Handbook of Experimental Theatre [to be published 2021].

Project Impact, Reach and Credits

Orange Polar Bear Credits

Creatives

Director: Peter Wynne-Willson

Art Director: Yeo Shin-Dong

Lighting Designer: Simon Bond

Composer: Jang Yeong-Gyu

Sound Designer: Lim Seo-Jin

Movement Director: Lee Yun-Jung

Dramaturg: Tessa Walker

Translation: Ryoo Hyeryun

Projection: Yeo Shin-Dong and Jung Byung-Mok

Costume Design: Na Nuri and Kay Wilton

Props Designer: Kwon Min-Hee

Assistant Director: Moon Sae-mi

Assistant Director’s Assistant: Kwon Eun-Ji

Stage Design Assistant: Jung Young-Hyun

Producers: Misun Kim and Judy Owen

Associate Producer: Peter Wynne-Willson

Assistant Producer (UK): Yool Lee

Thanks to Polly Jerrold for assistance with casting in the UK.

Technical Staff

Production Manager: Tomas Wright

Production Interpreter: Hong Soo-Yeon

Stage Manager: Park Suye

ASM’s: Ruth O’Brien (UK), Suh Sharon (Korea)

Director of Projection & Sound: Kennikie Yun

Projection & Sound Operator: Kim Seok-Gi

Lighting technician:

Wardrobe Asst: Tracy

For Birmingham Repertory Theatre

Executive Director: Stuart Rogers

Artistic Director: Roxana Silbert

Associate Director: Steve Ball

Technical Director: Tomas Wright

Company Manager: Ruth Morgan

Producer: Lynette Dakin

Arts Team Co-ordinator: Sarah-Katy Davies

Head of Marketing: Paul Reece

Communications Manager: Clare Jepson-Homer

Marketing Manager: Richard Leigh

Campaign Manager: Victoria Ellory-Jones

Programme: Rachel Rutter

Head of Education: Daniel Tyler-McTighe

Learning & Participation Administrator: Lauren Fallon

Youth Theatre Director: Philip Morris

For National Theater Company of Korea

Production Manager: Hong Young-jin
Director of TYA research centre: Kim Sung-je
General Administrator: Oh Hyeon-sil
Artistic Director: Lee Sung-youl

Costume Production: In Your Door

Props Production: Daewoo Interior

Photography for NTCK poster image Kang-Hyuk Lee
Production Photography: Sung-Yong Jang and Won-Gyun Jung (Studio Greenbee)
NTCK promotional image graphic design: Workroom

Special thanks to the following for their support for the production in the UK:

Arts Council England, Lee Child, WA Cadbury Trust, AD Garrad Discretionary Trust, Hamstead Hall Academy, Swanshurst School, Queensbridge School, Lorna Laidlaw, Ali Belbin, Ellen Lickman, Samuel Speed, Hannah Tomlinson, Kerry-Ann Allen, Bella Pesce, Destiny Sond and Harsimran Kaur.

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