All the actors, currently living in the city government-assisted low-cost housing facilities, have been practicing for more than five months meeting twice a week. Although most homeless people yearn to get back to their previous lives, they easily give up because of the fears of failure and psychological traumas they have had during the life on the street.

Seoul, Korea¶ May 29, 2012 -- An uncommon play will be put on in a theater at Daehak-ro, the so-called Broadway of Asia with more than 100 theaters of all sizes. Sponsored jointly by Seoul City Hall, the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, and the Homeless Counseling & Protection Center, a group of homeless actors will perform on the stage for two days between May 29 and 30. Entitled “The People of I-Moon Village,” the play will depict the lives of the downtrodden.

All the actors, currently living in the city government-assisted low-cost housing facilities, have been practicing for more than five months meeting twice a week. Although most homeless people yearn to get back to their previous lives, they easily give up because of the fears of failure and psychological traumas they have had during the life on the street. According to the producer of the play, the actors may be able to regain their confidence and self-worth by reliving their own life conditions on the stage.

The group is scheduled to put on another play at yearend while planning to go on a tour in homeless facilities across the country. Kim Kyeong-Ho, the manager of Seoul City Hall’s welfare & health office, said, “At a small practice room, there’s a big change going on. Until now, the homeless people have had a hard time living from day to day. But now they can say out loud we can do it. I hope this could be a good occasion for people to look at the homeless in a different way.”

Sean Chung (press@whowired.com)