The Story of the White Circle

The trial to determine the true mother begins now.

About the Play

For 30 years centered in Daehak-ro, Troupe Arirang has delivered laughter and emotional resonance across generations and genres. This production marks the company’s first presentation as an artist-in-residence at Guro Arts Valley Theater. Bertolt Brecht’s modern theatrical masterpiece The Caucasian Chalk Circle is freshly reimagined into an engaging musical play that audiences of all ages can easily enjoy and connect with.

Highlights

An Exciting Musical Play for the Whole Family Moving beyond a play that mothers simply want their children to watch, this production is created as a piece that mothers and children will want to experience together. The Story of the White Circle retains the thematic depth and weight of the original while adopting an accessible and delightful adaptation, crafting a musical play where grandparents and grandchildren can share laughter and empathy side by side.

Rebirth of a Masterpiece: A Road-Action Courtroom Drama Bertolt Brecht’s The Caucasian Chalk Circle remains a monumental classic continuously staged across the globe. The story centers on the trial to uncover the “true mother” between the governor’s wife, Katalina, and the maidservant, Soon-i, as each pulls on the hands of young Michel standing inside a white circle. Law and justice, conscience and greed, truth and sincerity—what verdict will we reach as the trial unfolds?

First-Class Theatre in Guro Celebrating 30 years of artistic creation transcending generations and genres, Troupe Arirang presents The Story of the White Circle as its inaugural work as an artist-in-residence at Guro Arts Valley Theater. Drawing upon extensive experience across children’s theatre, youth productions, traditional performance arts, and musicals, the company ushers in a vibrant new era for regional theatre.

Heart-Pounding Energy: Even Better Live The live music and singing performed by musicians and cast members form an indispensable charm of the show. Weaving together playful, comic tunes and emotionally soaring melodies that warm the heart from start to finish, audiences will discover a musical play even more captivating than a traditional musical.

Synopsis

The battle for true motherhood between the maid Soon-i and the governor’s wife Katalina

Once upon a time, in a kingdom caught in endless cycles of war, ruin, and reconstruction, there lived a governor, his glamorous wife Katalina, their young son Michel, the maidservant Soon-i, and Soon-i’s fiancé Simon. When an armed rebellion breaks out, chaos sweeps the land once more.

Desperate to flee and save herself, the governor’s wife abandons her son Michel. Discovering the forsaken child, Soon-i decides to care for him, braving every hardship to fiercely protect the boy.

Two years later, with the rebellion quelled, the governor’s wife returns to reclaim her child and demands a judgment from Judge Azdak. What verdict will the drunken magistrate deliver to Soon-i and Katalina?