A Korean adaptation of Anton Chekhov's classic play 'The Cherry Orchard' has launched its ambitious international tour on a triumphant note, selling out all performances at the Hong Kong Asia Festival 2025. Starring two of South Korea's most acclaimed actors, Jeon Do-yeon and Park Hae-soo, the production opened the prestigious festival to packed audiences and will continue touring through 2026, making stops in Singapore, Australia, and New York.
The play ran from September 19-21 at the Hong Kong Cultural Center's Grand Theater, a 1,700-seat venue that served as the festival's official opening program. Demand for tickets was extraordinary, with all three performances selling out within just 15 minutes of going on sale. More than 4,200 seats were sold, excluding restricted-viewing sections, demonstrating the production's remarkable international appeal.
While Korean culture has gained unprecedented global recognition in recent years, it remains rare for Korean-language theater productions to achieve such success on international stages. Unlike non-verbal performing arts such as dance, theater faces significant challenges due to language barriers and cultural context. However, this production managed to transcend these limitations through its universal themes and compelling performances.
The 2-hour and 30-minute performance featured English and Chinese subtitles, yet much of the production's humor and emotional impact crossed language barriers naturally. Audiences responded enthusiastically throughout the show, with waves of laughter filling the theater during moments of deliberate comic relief, proving the production's ability to connect with diverse audiences.
Following the opening night performance, lead actress Jeon Do-yeon reflected on the experience, saying, 'I was nervous and even a little afraid, since it was our first overseas performance. But sharing the energy with Hong Kong audiences on stage was an unforgettable experience. Their laughter and applause gave us the greatest energy.' Her co-star Park Hae-soo echoed these sentiments, noting the audience's enthusiastic response. 'The audience brought us back for three curtain calls – that was a first for us,' he said during a post-performance meet-the-artist session. 'I am truly grateful that so many people filled the theater for the very first stop of our overseas tour.'
Connie Lee, Chief Manager of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, which oversees the Hong Kong Asia Festival, praised the production's unique approach. 'Simon Stone's version of the theater classic is surprisingly Korean, featuring a remarkable stellar cast who bring each character vividly to life, giving our audience a chance to appreciate Korean culture through the performing arts,' she said.
The production represents a significant achievement for LG Arts Center, which produced the show and premiered it in Korea last year to audiences totaling 40,000 theatergoers. This version of 'The Cherry Orchard' is a contemporary reimagining of Chekhov's 1904 masterpiece, written and directed by Simon Stone, an Australian theater-maker renowned for his innovative adaptations of canonical works. Stone has transplanted Chekhov's timeless tale of decline and displacement into the context of modern Korean society.
In this adaptation, Jeon Do-yeon portrays Song Do-young, a third-generation chaebol heiress facing the imminent loss of her family's company and estate. The character and her family remain in denial about the approaching crisis, while Hwang Doo-sik, played by Park Hae-soo, represents the self-made son of their family's former chauffeur who offers practical solutions that the family refuses to accept. This dynamic captures the essence of Chekhov's original while making it distinctly relevant to contemporary Korean audiences.
Despite its Korean setting, the drama maintains Chekhov's penetrating critique of inertia in the face of dramatic change. The production explores which values survive during periods of social transformation, a theme that resonates across cultures and national boundaries. Director Simon Stone explained his vision during a post-show discussion, noting, 'Russia in the late 19th century was facing a lot of questions about what the future means, what the past means. I think of it as a critique of people who, in a moment of crisis, would be in a position to change something but instead stick their heads in the sand. And I think we're witnessing that a lot all over the world at the moment sadly.'
The international tour will continue with performances scheduled for November 7-9 at Singapore's Esplanade, followed by shows in Australia in February and a highly anticipated New York engagement in September 2026. The complete original Korean cast of ten actors, including both Jeon Do-yeon and Park Hae-soo, will remain with the production throughout the entire international tour, ensuring consistency and authenticity across all performances.
Lee Hyun-jung, CEO of LG Arts Center, expressed the organization's broader cultural mission through this tour. 'We hope to share the excellence of Korean theater and the talent of our actors with audiences worldwide,' she said. 'Our goal is to create a work that conveys deep resonance and empathy across cultures.' The successful Hong Kong debut suggests that this ambitious goal is well within reach, as the production prepares to bring its unique blend of classical theater and contemporary Korean storytelling to audiences across three continents.
