Daehakro(대학로) in Hyehwa
is always buzzing with new shows to catch.
But this May, the lineup is looking especially iconic.
For those who love the intimate energy of small and medium-scale theaters,
several crowd favorites and timeless classics are making a comeback.
If you're looking for the perfect play to watch this month,
here are three top picks you absolutely need on your radar.
1. Orphans
This play, an adaptation of American playwright Lyle Kessler’s representative work, made its Korean debut in 2017. It is now in its fourth season at Theater TOM 1, proving its enduring popularity among theatergoers.
The play follows two orphaned brothers, Treat and Phillip, living in a crumbling house in North Philadelphia. Treat, the volatile older brother, survives through petty theft while keeping Phillip confined at home, forcing him to remain in a state of naive childhood out of a desperate fear of being abandoned.
The brothers’ stagnant world is turned upside down when Treat kidnaps a mysterious gangster named Harold. But in a surprising twist, Harold doesn't remain a victim. Instead, he becomes a mentor and a father figure to the two boys. Over the course of their strange living arrangement, these three broken souls begin to heal, eventually forming an unexpected family of their own.
Continuing the success of its previous run, Orphans returns once again with gender-free casting. Before we move on to the next production, I’d like to share a poignant line from the play that captures its heart:
Now as then, every young man's shoulder needs a touch of encouragement.
2. Mouth Piece
An adaptation of British playwright Kieran Hurley’s work, this play first debuted in Korea in 2020. It is now meeting audiences once again in its third run at YES24 Art One Hall 2, solidifying its place as a must-watch production.
The story begins on Salisbury Hill, where Declan, a young man who finds solace in drawing, saves Libby from the edge of a precarious cliff. Although they live in the same city, the two belong to entirely different worlds.
Libby, a struggling playwright, discovers Declan’s raw artistic talent and a story that demands to be told. Convinced that she must be the one to bring his voice to the world, she introduces him to a life he has never known. In return, Declan opens up and shares his deepest, most private stories with her. Together, they begin to write a play titled Mouthpiece. However, their collaboration soon spirals out of control as the play starts racing toward a conclusion that neither of them expected.
Mouthpiece is a production that masterfully portrays social inequality and the ethical responsibility of art. Just as before, I’d like to introduce a powerful line from the play before moving on to our final pick.
What happens next is up to me. What happens next is not up to you. Whatever happens, there is no such thing as a real ending.
3. Lungs
An adaptation of British playwright Duncan Macmillan’s acclaimed work, this play first debuted in Korea in 2020. It is scheduled to begin its third run this May at Chungmu Arts Center, marking one of the most anticipated returns of the season.
A couple who strives to be "good people" by living eco-friendly lives faces a massive dilemma when they consider having a baby. In a world plagued by overpopulation and environmental crises, they begin a relentless, neurotic conversation: Is bringing a new life into this crumbling world an ethical choice? This play follows their raw and intellectual journey to define what it truly means to be a "good person."
Lungs is a play that captures the lives of a man and a woman who constantly ask themselves, "Are we good people?" Across a lifetime, they engage in an endless conversation about themselves, their surroundings, the world, and the planet—or at the very least, about the importance of having good intentions.
We conclude our look at May’s must-watch plays with this final, soul-searching question from Lungs.
Are you a good person?
