일상의 고통, 죽음의 문턱에서 삶으로 돌아오는 여정 ‘역행기’

A groundbreaking play titled "Reversal" has taken the Seoul National Theatre stage after a two-year development process, first receiving an award at the National Drama Creation Competition in 2024. The production, inspired by ancient Sumerian myth "Inanna's Descent into the Underworld," narrates the journey of a woman named Inanna, who descends into the mysterious "Kegal" – a vast house and collective memory of forgotten things – through her home being demolished.

Along the way, she encounters her long-lost family members in various forms: a grandmother with roots in her body creating wings for her daughter, a mother with only one wing yearning to fly, a sister armed with a mallet, and another sister made of stone.

The play delves into three women's stories representing different eras of Korean modern history: a grandmother who endured the Japanese occupation and post-liberation period, a mother who struggled with the effects of industrialization, and a sister who represents the forgotten daughter of an unsuccessful life. Additionally, an unnamed sister, symbolizing the concept of overseas adoption, adds depth to the narrative.

Inanna, who once lived in a small apartment and withdrew into isolation, finally returns to the surface world after receiving support from her family members, proclaiming, "Look back at the happy memories, and it will be possible to live." The director, Park Dong-woo, visualizes the journey of Inanna's spirit descending through the layers of a single room to meet the dead, using a combination of physical sets and video projections to create the illusion of the descent into the underground world and the return to the surface.

The result is a unique and visually striking production, exploring the depths of human suffering and the potential for newfound strength, even in the face of the darkest times.