The Multi-Scene Composition of North Korean Revolutionary Theatre: Seonghwangdang (Village Shrine)

Abstract: This study examines the peculiarity and novelty of the creative method used in North Korean Seonghwangdang (Village Shrine)-style revolutionary theatre, which has been strongly emphasized as a new form of theatre. This method is defined as a multi-scene composition, a fundamental aspect of the theatre revolution that overcomes the limitations of classical unities in Western plays. The multi-scene composition presents various living places on the stage to portray the development of an ordinary person's revolutionary worldview. It focuses on characters rather than the plot, reflecting the human-centered idea of juche (self-reliance). This concept emerged from Kim Jong-il's political objective of establishing Kim Il-sung's anti-Japanese armed struggle as the sole North Korean revolutionary tradition to justify his succession of power, maximizing the propaganda effect of art and literature. Seonghwangdang presents the story of an ordinary woman, Mrs. Park, who sincerely believes in the local god but eventually recognizes the illusion of her belief. She is determined to take control of her own destiny. The play's plot revolves around the kernel incident involving Dolsoi, who incites Mrs. Park's change. According to the principle of Seonghwangdang -style playwrighting, Mrs. Park, who appears in seven out of eight places in the entire play, must be the central figure for the three-dimensional composition focusing on human relationships. However, Dolsoi takes the center of the play. The standard examples of the multi-scene composition emphasize the satellite incidents in which Dolsoi's actions are highlighted. Nevertheless, Mrs. Park's act of destroying the shrine embodies the principle of the juche idea's independence. The audience naturally internalizes the juche worldview by sympathizing with the two protagonists. The multi-scene composition of Seonghwangdang -style theatre can be attributed to the advanced theatre technology. However, from a theatrical style perspective, its novelty lies in the presentation of incidents occurring in various places, disregarding the unity of place.