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Art and Culture

It's a fresh start to a new week and to give us a picture of this week's latest arts and culture events, we have our Michelle Kim with us right now. I hear she has a very unique opera performance in London and a sneak peek of two plays about love in Seoul.

Hello Michelle

[Reporter : ] Hello Conn-young

So what is this unique opera that you want to tell us about[Reporter : ] For a person who is homeless, getting tickets to the Royal Opera House in London would be an impossibility. Performing there would be even more unimaginable, but that's just what happened last week, when 300 homeless people stole the spotlight in their first performance at the Royal Opera House. Let's take a look.

Some singers wait a lifetime to perform at London's famous Royal Opera House. For members of the homeless community, it is an impossible dream.

But on July 2nd, 300 homeless people from around the world had their moment in the spotlight in the city hosting this year's Olympic Games

The sold out performance of "With One Voice" was produced by Streetwise Opera, a grassroots organization featuring people who are currently homeless or have been homeles in the past.

Tony Hall, the Royal Opera House's Chief Executive Officer, said this was a first for the venue.

[Interview : Tony Hall, Chief Executive Officer Royal Opera House] "What is amazing is that we've never done anything like this before. It's a complete first for the Royal Opera House. It's also a first for the Olympic Cultural Festival. When you see what these people are doing, and of course they've come from all over the world so it's really Olympian in that sounds, when you see what they can do, you realise what amazing power and creativity and zest they have in all the things they're doing".

The Streetwise Opera was established by opera critic Matthew Peacock, who was inspired to start it after volunteering at a homeless shelter.

This performance opportunity has given the participants, who were once pushed to the sidelines, a place in the spotlight and helped boost their self-esteem.

Streetwise Opera is currently working on a film about its work that is set to premiere in the spring of 2013.

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Wow. That sounds like a really heart-warming opera performance and something that I wish we could see in Korea as well.

[Reporter : ] I have the same hope. It sounds like such a great opportunity for the members of Streetwise Opera and something that both the performers and the audience can appreciate and feel happy watching. Also, I hear they are absolutely amazing performers, which I'm sure added to the excitement.

Certainly, and since Streetwise Opera is composed of people from all around the world, maybe they should go on a world tour so they can share their talents. Alright, I hear you have something else that's a little closer to home[Reporter : ] Yes I do. Love is the theme of two very different plays that are now onstage this week in Seoul.
One is about a couple who has a very unique approach to dealing with the challenges of marriage, and the other is about the friendship between two women during the Japanese colonial era. I have this and more so take a look at what's in store for you this week.

Harold Pinter's play, "The Lover", tells the story of a married couple who are dissatisfied with their marriage but seem to be living very ordinary lives.

To overcome their difficulties, they adopt an unusual strategy involving a third character, the lover of the play's title.

But it only lasts for so long.

This play is one of the major works by the Nobel Prize-winning playwright and portrays the loneliness of modern man going through the mundanity of life.

Also on stage is a Korean musical that follows two women who have been best friends since high school and who slowly begin to fall in love.

Their love is hindered by their social class and the cultural views of the time.

Set in the 1930s during the Japanese Intervention, the musical is based on a true story and was three years in the making.

Its central theme of love between two women is likely to make waves among the theatergoers of today.

Lastly, the mime show stars Ko Jae-kyung, who has been a mime for around 20 years.

The music will be performed live by a five-member band and the audience is invited to participate as mimes in some sections.

That's a wide range of performances in a variety of genres this week. The mime performance sounds especially interesting. I haven't seen a mime performance before so I might have to see that.

[Reporter : ] You definitely should. I really like the idea that mimes can portray such strong emotions -- from sadness and anger to love and hope -- all without words or sounds.
All three performances are sure to be interesting, not only for the genre but also because they explore such different kinds of love. I think all three performances can be enjoyed by a lot of people.

Sounds like a great way to enjoy your free time this week. And now, you will be wrapping things up with the events bulletin, right [Reporter : ] Yes I will. The musical "The Art Factory Show" will be showing in Daehangno with subtitles in three languages. It may be the perfect choice for a weekend outing. In addtion, there is a musical about menopause and, coming up in September, there will be a concert starring performers from the TV show "The Masterpiece of Legend". Here are the details.

[Reporter : ed: jenny] This bulletin features 3 events

"The Art Factory Show" follows the adventures at an isolated art factory. The show is at the Maronnier Theater in Daehangno, the city's theater district, and will be presented in Korean with English, Chinese, and Japanese subtitles.

A musical about meopause

Thank you for the update

[Reporter : ] My pleasure.

Reporter : dainee@arirang.co.kr

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