The Wanju Cultural Foundation will hold a recitation event on the theme of "Wanju, Middle-aged Play" at Cafe Silmari at 7 p.m. on the 23rd.

This recitation event is part of the "2025 Middle-aged Humanities Program," selected by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Arts and Culture Education Service, where participants write short plays about their lives and perform them on stage in a participatory humanities program.

The "2nd Act School" is divided into four detailed projects: learning, writing, reciting, and publishing plays over the course of September and October.

Participants created plays ranging from 10 to 30 minutes, drawing inspiration from various aspects of their lives such as their personal history, parents, love, folklore, children, region, occupation, and friends. Writers and artists like Kim Geun-hye, Lee Kyung-ok, Choi Ki-woo, and Choi A-hyun helped participants with the planning, composition, and writing of their works.

Thirteen participants wrote plays, each with a unique theme related to Wanju County's history and culture or showcasing the diverse colors of middle age.

At the recitation event, five plays will be presented: "Pat Rat and Bean Rat," "Wanju Food Tour," "Our Mother's Flower Day," "Matchmaking," and "Where We'll Be in 10 Years."

"Pat Rat and Bean Rat" is a reinterpretation of the classic tale "Bean Rat and Pat Rat," set in Wanju County, focusing on events like Pat Rat's mother's remarriage and Bean Rat secretly helping with Pat Rat's work, leading to the two becoming a true family.

"Wanju Food Tour" is a creative pansori piece based on the food of Wanju County's 13 towns and villages, introducing a variety of dishes like noodles, spicy chicken stew, tofu rice, Korean beef, traditional Korean meals, and brick-oven pizza.

"Our Mother's Flower Day" tells the simple life story of a 94-year-old mother through conversations with her daughter, evoking a sense of longing and the importance of recording memories about one's parents.

"Matchmaking" features a father, mother, and daughter, presenting familiar yet unfamiliar dialogues among family members, filled with sincere and heartfelt words that resonate with the audience.

"Our Future in 10 Years" is a vow to 'love' that comes in middle age, imagining a second life with a loved one in a quiet rural house in Wanju County.

Playwright Choi Ki-woo, who participated as a responsible instructor, expressed his expectations for the participants' brilliant second acts, saying, "I hope this project, written in the most familiar language of human life, will lead to reflections on past lives and imagining new hopes as a second or third journey."

The recitation play is free for everyone to attend. To participate, apply through Naver Form (https://naver.me/Gf0wb9nP). For inquiries, contact 070-4477-5893.