A cold morning in the city. A man wakes to the sound of an alarm, putting on a familiar expressionless mask. He walks the same path, in the same clothes, struggling just to survive another day. Everyone hides their faces, drifting like ghosts with no memory or emotion. In the subway, exhausted, his consciousness flickers. Through the blur, a shadow appears—only he notices it. Drawn by the shadow into a fantastical world, he meets a figure called Malttugi. As they dance, long-forgotten instincts are awakened. But what lies at the end of this ecstatic play?
The multigenre performance “Tr-edition: Life Is But A Dream” is a theatrical rite and a surreal escape at once, which fleetingly yet profoundly reminds: life is but a dream. Set against the backdrop of the universal struggle of the “modern individual, overwhelmed by stress and the futility of an aimless achievement”, the performance blends traditional Korean mask dance, shamanic rituals, and symbolic figures such as lions and tigers with electronic dance music soundscapes and physical theatre, in order to dissolve the boundaries between reality and fantasy.
And when the man puts on the mask offered by the black tiger, time distorts and space unravels, revealing a forest of illusion where dreams pulse with color and chaos. Following him, the audience is immersed in a visceral journey through modern alienation and unspoken longing, during which it discovers the strange liberation found in masks, rituals, and rhythm.
ICONTACT theatre leads the future of performing arts with track-based worldviews, creating 3 new works and 3 repertory shows annually, while hosting over 5 global events. Exploring genres like theater, immersive experiences, and even gaming, it shapes new cultural trends. Through partnerships with producers, franchises, and universities, it supports sustainability and emerging artists. With a 23-member creative team, ICONTACT expands its IP, infrastructure, and global connections each year.
Among its signature initiatives is Tr-edition – an experimental label under ICONTACT that explores the intersection of ritual, mythology, and contemporary life. Tr-edition reimagines traditional Korean elements – mask dances, shamanistic rites, animal symbolism – through the lens of modern theatrical languages such as physical drama, media art, and electronic sound.
Rooted in Asian spiritual narratives but resonant with universal emotional struggles, Tr-edition investigates the psyche of the modern individual: isolated, overstimulated, and in search of meaning. Its performances often unfold like theatrical rituals – surreal, visceral, and participatory – where the boundary between audience and performer dissolves.
More than a label, Tr-edition is a cultural laboratory that transforms myth into motion, tradition into trance, and performance into collective catharsis. Through global touring and site-specific collaborations, it seeks to awaken a shared memory of dreaming, dancing, and becoming.
The performance is part of the International Programme of Ivan Vazov National Theatre and is presented together with platform World Theatre in Sofia Platform as part of the joint initiative #StageWithoutBorders, and in partnership with Sibiu International Theatre Festival – Romania and with the financial support of Busan International Performing Arts Market and Busan Cultural Foundation.
