Actress Anna E. Rihlmann, School of Drama, Writes and Produces “Hallo Chunhyang: The Tale of Anna”

 “Hallo Chunhyang: The Tale of Anna,” an original play written and produced by Anna Elisabeth Rhilmann went on stage during the 3^rd DoDream Festival. Rihlmann is an actress from Germany who is the first-ever foreign student to obtain an MA in acting from the School of Drama in K-Arts. The work portrays happenings taking place as German-born Anna Rhilmann, who goes by the name “Yoon Anna” in Korea, tries to earn the cast of Chunhyang, the iconic Korean female role.

Another significant supporting role, Bangja, was played by Anupam Tripathi, Anna Rihlmann’s fellow alumnus from K-Arts, who is well-known for his role in the Netflix series “Squid Game.” In the work, Rihlmann and Tripathi fight against the prejudice predominant in Korea which expects them to play stereotypical foreign characters while they both majored in acting in Korea. Anna upon being asked to play the cute foreign girl argues, “I can act well in the Korean language.” whereas Anupam upon a request to play a foreign immigrant worker who speaks the poor Korean language, claims his yearning to act in a Korean historical drama. They hit the wall, however.

The production was praised for touching on a social matter through vivid portraits of foreign actors based in Korea or vice versa circumstances going through difficulties and challenges in a tough reality.