The 16th Seoul Marginal Theater Festival is set to launch from July 14-27 in various locations throughout Seoul, including Gwanghwamun and Myeong-dong.

The festival, under the theme of “Theater in the Square,” focuses on telling the stories of marginalized groups within society through a showcase of experimental and alternative theater performances.

The opening piece of the festival is “25th Hour ― An Outcry of my Generation,” a one-man relay rally that kicks off at noon on July 14 and continues until the next day for 24-hours in Gwanghwamun Square.

Twenty-four people from diverse backgrounds ― ranging from a college dropout, to a singer, dancer and human rights activist ― will participate in the rally for an hour each, which aims to portray “creative solidarity.”

The closing piece will be “Before the Law,” a theater performance depicting the controversies surrounding Cort Guitars, one of the largest guitar manufacturers in the world which is headquarterd in Korea. The company’s management is accused of laying off workers with no prior notice or compensation since 2007. Some of the former Cort Guitars factory workers will participate in the play.

For more information, visit http://mtfestival.com or call 02-3673-5575.

By Ahn Sung-mi (sahn@heraldcorp.com)