Budapest theatre tackles The Reunification of the Two Koreas

Joël Pommerat is one of the most dynamic and complex directors of contemporary French theatre. And this time his piece entitled The Reunification of the Two Koreas has made its way to Budapest, where it is being directed by Gábor Máté, with starring roles for János Kulka, Alexandra Borbély and Eszter Ónodi. Mr. Pommerat is no “run-of-the-mill” director and playwright. (Perhaps there isn’t such a thing at all in the world of the performing arts.) On the occasion of his fortieth birthday, Mr. Pommerat promised his actors, actresses and audiences that each year, he would write a brand new play and would keep this impressive tempo for the next 40 years.

The title of the piece now playing at Budapest’s Katona József Színház is misleading. The play isn’t really about the two Koreas, so don’t expect any satirical sketches of Kim Jong Un or his father, the Dear Leader. The play, which was first performed at the Odéon Theatre in Paris, in 2013, is comprised of 20 very loosely linked sketches depicting different aspects of human interaction and relationships. The audience goes from seeing a wedding fall through, when it is uncovered that the groom has managed to have had sexual encounters with all of the brides sisters, to a scene where we see how a Catholic priest struggles to break off an on-going relationship with his favourite prostitute. In a more serious scene, parents of a young boy try to figure out why their son has been acting so strange since he returned from summer camp, and what might have happened while he was away that he came back with so much anxiety.

The play goes from the absurd, grotesque and light-hearted hilarity all the way to overt tragedy.

The Reunification of the Two Koreas play November 12, November 13th, as well as December 3rd and December 14th at the Katona József Theatre.

The Reunification of the Two Koreas at the Katona József Színház in Budapest. Photo: Beatrix Gergely.

The Reunification of the Two Koreas at the Katona József Színház in Budapest. Photo: Beatrix Gergely.

The Reunification of the Two Koreas at the Katona József Színház in Budapest. Photo: Beatrix Gergely.

The Reunification of the Two Koreas at the Katona József Színház in Budapest. Photo: Beatrix Gergely.

The Reunification of the Two Koreas at the Katona József Színház in Budapest. Photo: Beatrix Gergely.

The Reunification of the Two Koreas at the Katona József Színház in Budapest. Photo: Beatrix Gergely.

The Reunification of the Two Koreas at the Katona József Színház in Budapest. Photo: Beatrix Gergely.

The Reunification of the Two Koreas at the Katona József Színház in Budapest. Photo: Beatrix Gergely.

The Reunification of the Two Koreas at the Katona József Színház in Budapest. Photo: Beatrix Gergely.

The Reunification of the Two Koreas at the Katona József Színház in Budapest. Photo: Beatrix Gergely.

The Reunification of the Two Koreas at the Katona József Színház in Budapest. Photo: Beatrix Gergely.

The Reunification of the Two Koreas at the Katona József Színház in Budapest. Photo: Beatrix Gergely.

The Reunification of the Two Koreas at the Katona József Színház in Budapest. Photo: Beatrix Gergely.

The Reunification of the Two Koreas at the Katona József Színház in Budapest. Photo: Beatrix Gergely.

The Reunification of the Two Koreas at the Katona József Színház in Budapest. Photo: Beatrix Gergely.

The Reunification of the Two Koreas at the Katona József Színház in Budapest. Photo: Beatrix Gergely.

The Reunification of the Two Koreas at the Katona József Színház in Budapest. Photo: Beatrix Gergely.

The Reunification of the Two Koreas at the Katona József Színház in Budapest. Photo: Beatrix Gergely.

The Reunification of the Two Koreas at the Katona József Színház in Budapest. Photo: Beatrix Gergely.

The Reunification of the Two Koreas at the Katona József Színház in Budapest. Photo: Beatrix Gergely.

The Reunification of the Two Koreas at the Katona József Színház in Budapest. Photo: Beatrix Gergely.

The Reunification of the Two Koreas at the Katona József Színház in Budapest. Photo: Beatrix Gergely.

The Reunification of the Two Koreas at the Katona József Színház in Budapest. Photo: Beatrix Gergely.

The Reunification of the Two Koreas at the Katona József Színház in Budapest. Photo: Beatrix Gergely.

The Reunification of the Two Koreas at the Katona József Színház in Budapest. Photo: Beatrix Gergely.

The Reunification of the Two Koreas at the Katona József Színház in Budapest. Photo: Beatrix Gergely.

The Reunification of the Two Koreas at the Katona József Színház in Budapest. Photo: Beatrix Gergely.

The Reunification of the Two Koreas at the Katona József Színház in Budapest. Photo: Beatrix Gergely.

The Reunification of the Two Koreas at the Katona József Színház in Budapest. Photo: Beatrix Gergely.

The Reunification of the Two Koreas at the Katona József Színház in Budapest. Photo: Beatrix Gergely.

The Reunification of the Two Koreas at the Katona József Színház in Budapest. Photo: Beatrix Gergely.

The Reunification of the Two Koreas at the Katona József Színház in Budapest. Photo: Beatrix Gergely.

The Reunification of the Two Koreas at the Katona József Színház in Budapest. Photo: Beatrix Gergely.

The Reunification of the Two Koreas at the Katona József Színház in Budapest. Photo: Beatrix Gergely.

The Reunification of the Two Koreas at the Katona József Színház in Budapest. Photo: Beatrix Gergely.

The Reunification of the Two Koreas at the Katona József Színház in Budapest. Photo: Beatrix Gergely.

 

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