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"Lady Macbeth," a feminist version of Shakespeare's timeless tragedy, returns to stage at the Seoul Arts Center on March 21 after a six-year hiatus. The play was enormously popular when it debuted in 1997 at a drama festival in Seoul, leaving Shakespeare fans amazed with its fresh, even shocking interpretation. The play has been selected as the first production to mark the 20th anniversary of the SAC, one of this country's major arts complexes.

"Lady Macbeth" will also be performed in Japan and China this year.

It has been invited to the 2008 Tokyo Performing Arts Market, which kicks off in early March. And it will make its debut in Beijing right before the Olympics begin in August.

Produced by Han Tae-sook, the very talented postmodern playwright, the drama tells the story of Macbeth's wife, a deeply ambitious woman who lusts for power and is complicit in a murder which eventually drives her to commit suicide.

She is one of Shakespeare's most famous and frightening female characters. She plots the murder of Duncan, the king of Scotland, so that her husband can take the crown.

It is her psychological hell that Han highlights. And this will make the audience, particularly women, feel a strong sympathy for the tragic queen-to-be, says the producer.

Seo Joo-hee, Han's favorite actress, takes the role of the complex plotter again, while veteran actor Chung Dong-hwan appears as Macbeth. Chung also takes the role of a royal doctor who happens to hear the queen's confession.

This latest version features Park Jae-cheon, the famous percussionist, who creates an eerie mood with his heavy, rhythmical beats. Han also uses some symbolic objects such as dirt, flour and water to fully project the agony of Lady Macbeth.

"Lady Macbeth" runs through April 13 at the Seoul Arts Center in southern Seoul. Tickets are all 40,000 won. For more information and ticket reservations, call (02) 580-1300.

By Cho Chung-un

(christory@heraldm.com)