Korean Actor Taking On A Staggering 15 Roles In A Play Opens Up About His Feelings And The Pressure
Actor Bae Soo Bin, taking on 15 roles in the play “Jekyll & Hyde,” spoke candidly about his feelings and the pressure of the stage.
Recently, after the final preview performance of “Jekyll & Hyde” in Daehangno, Seoul, Bae Soo Bin met with the audience and began, “For me, the stage is a sacred space.”
He honestly confessed his reason for taking on “Jekyll & Hyde,” saying, “Every time I step on stage, I feel excitement and nervousness. After acting for over 20 years, I started this challenge from the doubt of ‘Can I keep standing in this space?’”
He continued, “Honestly, I even had regrets. There were so many lines in the script that I thought, ‘What am I going to do?’ I lost sleep throughout the rehearsal period. Even though there were sleepless nights, that process itself was part of the preparation,” he added.
The play “Jekyll & Hyde” is based on the story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde but is told through the perspective of his friend and lawyer Utterson, exploring events as a psychological drama. The work densely examines human inner good and evil, desire, and violence, and during its premiere last year, it drew attention as a “performance feat of acting.”
In this production, Bae Soo Bin is the sole performer on stage, portraying 15 characters over 85 minutes. He moves between characters including Jekyll, Hyde, Utterson, Enfield, Lanyon, police officers, and witnesses, requiring extreme focus and physical stamina.
Bae Soo Bin said, “Before every performance, I always pray. I pray that I can connect well with the audience. I approached this work with the same mindset. After the first performance and the preview period, I feel truly proud and grateful. I feel I can continue acting in the future.”
He also commented on his fellow actors, “This work showcases the distinct charm of all four actors. Since each actor interprets the roles differently, watching each performance separately offers a fresh experience.”
“Jekyll & Hyde” features Bae Soo Bin along with Jung Dong Hwa, Jung Wook Jin, and Cha Jung Woo, each presenting the work with their own interpretation. Performances run until June 7 at Link The Space 2 in Daehangno.
Source: (A)
