Thoughts Are Free

Synopsis

Gu Seo-gwang, a former prosecutor turned politician, wins a seat in the National Assembly after word spreads of how devotedly he has cared for his wife Oh Sara, comatose since a fire a month earlier. His brother Gu Seo-hwan, who runs the Lemon Holdings fund, journalist Lee U-jin, and even Sara’s sister Oh Mira, former chair of MH Group, all actively helped his campaign. Sara miraculously wakes on the day her husband is elected — yet no one is truly glad she has recovered. The day after the election, Seo-hwan is caught drink-driving, and the ties that bind them begin to show…

About the production

Theatre is free; thoughts are free Thoughts Are Free premiered in 2021 as Sara, praised for its dense scenes and ensemble playing. Building on it with sharp humour, pointed satire and theatrical imagination, Arirang turned it into a witty twist on contemporary society — a truly Arirang work. At a time when freedom of the press and of expression are threatened again, theatre is free, and our thoughts are free.

Passion or crime? The cartel of power and capital The strongest communities are not those of goodwill but those who share in wrongdoing. Through endless conflict, they still band together for one goal, and the stickiness of power unfolds like black comedy. In an age that idolises money, “evil” hovers around us in the ordinary guise of dreaming of wealth. As Yeats wrote, the best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity.

Flashes that keep you on the edge of your seat Dynamic ensemble acting brings a complex text to life, and moments placed between the lines keep the tension high. Spotting scenes that recall corruption scandals we’ve glimpsed in the news is part of the fun, and the subtle, restrained direction adds to the pleasure.