[Sweden Focus] 2019 Assitej Korea International Summer Festival

24 Jul 2019, 3.00 PM - 04 Aug 2019, 3.00 PM

Sweden Focus, supported by the Swedish Arts Council and ASSITEJ Sweden, will highlight three Swedish performances for children by Pantomimteatern, Teater Pero and Dalija Acin Thelander. Another performance for children created by the Swedish choreographer and Korean dancers will also be on the stage. Along with the performances, a special exhibition and a drama workshop program to present the Swedish culture for children will be open to the public during the festival. ASSITEJ Sweden will present “The Swedish Support System for Theatre for Children and Youth” at the ASSITEJ International Summer Festival Conference. 

Jakob Hallgren, Ambassador of Sweden to the Republic of Korea says, “Culture is a vital part of Sweden’s national identity. I think this is a way, at least in Sweden, to express the fundamental values of freedom of expression, equal rights and respect for differences.” He adds “I am sure that this year’s festival will contribute to a big extent in broadening and deepening the cultural exchange between our two countries.”  

The 27^th ASSITEJ Korea International Summer Festival will take place at Chamber Hall of Sejong Center for the Performing Art, Jongno Children’s Theater, JCC Art Center and around Daehangno area from Wednesday 24 July to Sunday 4 August, 2019. 

Sweden Focus Programs: 

• Baby Drama, for audience 0-12 months
  
  The Garden of Spirited Minds by Dalija Acin Thelander is an interactive performance in a form of installation art, for infants attending the very first performance in their life. It provides babies with a unique experience stimulating their senses by watching, listening, feeling and touching freely. 
  
  24-25 July 10:00 / 14:00
  S Theater, Sejong Center for the Performing Art
  
  
• Experience of a collaborative dance performance between Sweden and Korea, for audience over 3 years old
  
  Tripod Race by Swedish and Korean artists is a story of performers from different countries, using different languages, who end up admitting their difference through a tripod race.
  
  31 July – 1 August 11:00 / 14:00
  Jongno Children’s Theater 
  
  
•  Invitation to a deeper thinking, for audience over 4 years old
  
  Aston’s Stones by Teater Pero is a touching story about a daddy dog who loves knitting, a mommy dog who loves playing music and a cute puppy Aston. They show how easy it is to discover values in small things and love them. Heart-warming story both for kids and adults.
  
  24-25 July 15:00 / 17:00
  Jongno Children’s Theater
  
  
• A message of Hope for us who live our days, for audience over 9 years old
  
  Leap of Faith – For I Survived by Pantomimteatern is about refugee children: about the joy of receiving a new pair of sneakers, about the longing for a family left behind, stories about friends, and about bottomless fear and loneliness. But also, a miraculous hope that refuses to die. The effects are maximized by mime, acrobatics, ingenious gestures and stage set as well as music.
  
  July 24-25 15:00 / 17:00
  Chamber Hall, Sejong Center for the Performing Art
  
  

• Happiness and rest in a Swedish style
  A special exhibition Dalahorse with you! and Summer Fika Festa are held during the festival respectively from 24 July to 4 August at S theater, Sejong Center of the Performing Art and 1-15 August at Multi-Purpose Auditorium Hall, Daehangno Information Center. The audience can experience Swedish color sense, design and the ‘work-life balance’ in Swedish culture. Admission is free of charge. 
  
  
  
• Drama Workshop for Children A special workshop is also ready for the young audience to experience Swedish culture through music, art and drama. The participants try to describe some words associated with Sweden by their body expression, make their own Dalahorse and hold an exhibition with them, which will invite children to deepen their thinking ability and improve their way of expression.  
   

• ASSITEJ International Summer Festival Conference
  Pelle Hanaeus, director of ASSITEJ Sweden, attends the Conference and presents “The Swedish Support System for Theatre for Children and Youth” in session II in Arts Academy Lecture Room of Sejong Center for the Performing Art at 16:00 Saturday 27 July.

Sweden Focus in 2019 Assitej Korea International Summer Festival