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| ▲ This photo, provided by Acom, shows Shin Goo from "The Two Popes." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
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| ▲ Thisphoto, provided by Acom, shows Jung Dong-hwan from "The Two Popes." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
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| ▲ This photo, provided by Acom, shows the cast for the play "The Two Popes." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
SEOUL, July 5 (Yonhap) -- "The Two Popes," a play about the friendship between Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio (Jonathan Pryce) Pope Francis, and the aging Pope Benedict XVI (Anthony Hopkins), will be performed under a license in Korea for the first time since its UK premiere. Shin Goo and Jung Dong-hwan will be playing the lead roles.
The Performance production company, Acom announced the casting of the play "The Two Popes," which will be staged at the KEPCO Art Center in Seoul from August to October, on Tuesday.
Shin Goo was casted as the role of Pope Benedict XVI along with actor Seo In-seok, Seo Sang-won, while Jung Dong-hwan and Nam Myeong-ryeol were will be playing Pope Francis.
Shin-goo, 86 this year, was hospitalized as his health deteriorated while standing on stage in the role of "Freud" in the play "Last Session" in March. However, he is said to have been completely cured since then and is focusing on the practice of the "The Two Popes."
Jung Dong-hwan, who has been double-cast for the role of Francis, is also expected to appear in the blockbuster "Hamlet," which Seensee Company will present at Haeoruem Grand Theater, National Theater of Korea from July 13. Nam Myeong-ryeol also received the most prestigious "Lee Hae-rang Theater Award" in Korea this year.
The play "The Two Pope" is based on the true story of Pope Benedict XVI and his successor Pope Francis, who caused a stir in the Catholic world as he confided with his own intentions to abdicate the papacy, and is written by the British writer Anthony McCarten.
Pope Benedict XVI, a conservative who values discipline and tradition, and Pope Francis, a reformist, liberal and progressive, acknowledges the differences in each other's beliefs and builds friendships with each other in a pleasant way.
This work was written as a play in 2017 and was first premiered as a play at the Royal & Derngate, England on June 2019. This work, which was then made into a movie, was released on Netflix in December 2019 and gained worldwide popularity.
This movie, with famous actors including Anthony Hopkins acting as Benedict XVI and Jonathan Price as Francis, were nominated for major film awards such as BAFTA (British Academy Film Awards) and the Golden Globes.
The play "The Two Popes," which will be performed from August 30 till October 23, is the world's first licensed performance of the original play.
This work includes the stories of Pope Benedict XVI, who is respected for his high-level piano skills and warm personality, along with Pope Francis, who knows how to enjoy soccer and tango. Additionally, the story of Pope Francis' youth Jorge Mario Bergoglio and Sofia, an upright nun who follows the beliefs of Pope Bergoglio will also be shown.
Jeong Jae-eun will be playing the role of Sofia while Jo Hwi will be playing the role of Jorge Mario Bergoglio.
"'The Two Popes' is a work that asks a question about what is 'not wrong but different' through the story of the two popes with opposite personalities and tendencies. We plan to deliver a resonant message by beautifully unraveling the story." the production company said.
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