Silent Physical Theater, The Chairs

A reimagining of Eugène Ionesco’s The Chairs through the medium of physical theater.

On a remote island, an elderly couple who have spent their entire lives together finally receive news of long-awaited guests. Overjoyed, they prepare chairs to welcome them. However, the guests remain unseen, and the couple finds themselves conversing with invisible visitors, reflecting on their own lives.

This production unfolds without dialogue, relying solely on movement and physical expression to convey its story. While Ionesco’s original play used empty chairs as a symbolic representation of imaginary guests, this adaptation introduces wooden marionettes to visually and symbolically amplify the themes of human isolation and disconnection in a strikingly evocative way.

Having won the Outstanding Work Award in the Theater category at the 2024 Busan International Performing Arts Market (BPAM) Next Stage,

this piece urges audiences to contemplate the increasing alienation of individuals in a fast-paced, competitive society.

Transcending language, it delivers a profound and universal philosophical message that resonates deeply.

Theater Company COCO was founded in 2017 as "COCO Performing" and rebranded to its current name in 2022. With a deep interest in social injustice, the company integrates these themes into its creative works while maintaining an objective perspective. Guided by the principle of "the audience comes first," COCO strives to evoke empathy and encourage reflection on pressing social issues.

The company won three awards, including Best Production, at the 41st Busan Theater Festival for "Mul-eui" (Disgrace) and received the Outstanding Work Award in the theater category at the 2024 BPAM Next Stage with "The Chairs: Rebuild."

Specializing in physical theater, COCO has established a unique stage language. Drawing inspiration from Eugène Ionesco and renowned German choreographer Pina Bausch, the company continues to explore the intricate relationship between movement and emotion. Through its innovative physical expression, COCO seeks to explore the essence of human existence and deliver powerful sensory experiences to its audiences.