Han Kang’s ‘The Vegetarian’ Continues to Resonate on Stage and in Literature
When Han Kang published her novel The Vegetarian in 2007, it initially garnered limited attention in South Korea. Though, the 2015 English translation propelled the work to international acclaim, culminating in the prestigious Man Booker International Prize in 2016 and, later, the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature for Han Kang.1 Now, nearly two decades after its initial publication, a Czech translation by Petra Ben-Ari has inspired a stage adaptation by Prague’s Divadlo v Dlouhá, under the direction of Kamila Polívková and dramatization by Matěj Samec.
A Silent Rebellion: The Story of Yeong-hye
The Vegetarian centers on Yeong-hye, a graphic artist and homemaker who abruptly decides to become a vegetarian following a series of disturbing dreams. This decision, a silent act of defiance, has profound and devastating consequences for her and her family. The novel explores themes of societal expectations, mental health, and the struggle for individual autonomy.
Staging the Intimate: Divadlo v Dlouhá’s Adaptation
The stage adaptation at Divadlo v Dlouhá maintains the novel’s narrative structure, presenting the story through the perspectives of three individuals close to Yeong-hye: her husband, her brother-in-law, and her sister. Notably, Yeong-hye herself remains absent from the stage, intensifying the sense of mystery and alienation. The intimate setting, with the audience seated in an extended forbin accommodating only a few dozen spectators, places them in close proximity to the actors performing on a small, raised pink stage.
Exploring Male Dominance and Female Agency
The production highlights the predatory nature of the male characters’ relationships with Yeong-hye. Matyáš Řezníček portrays the husband, consumed by a desire for an obedient wife, while Jiří Spišák embodies the brother-in-law, driven by a predatory sexual desire. These characters reduce Yeong-hye to an object of their own desires, focusing on her physicality – her bust or a birthmark known as a Mongolian spot. 2
Veronika Lazorčáková plays the nurse, offering a contrasting perspective. While capable of asserting herself, her presence serves more as a silent witness to the male dominance surrounding Yeong-hye, constrained by her role as a mother and protector of life.
Imagery, Abstraction, and Technical Precision
Kamila Polívková’s direction emphasizes the novel’s strong imagery, utilizing video projections and sound design to create an abstract and dreamlike atmosphere. Fragments of decaying food are captured with a macro lens and displayed on a screen above the stage, evoking the protagonist’s merging with nature. The oppressive atmosphere is further enhanced by the music of Jonatán Pastirčák (Pjoni and Aid Kid), consisting of vague noises and organic movements.
The production also employs understated yet impactful visual elements, such as a performer dressed in black overalls who moves almost unnoticed around the stage, functioning as an ambiguous symbol of Yeong-hye’s absence, the characters’ anxieties, or a mythical figure.
A Powerful and Thought-Provoking Adaptation
The adaptation thoughtfully handles the source material, even omitting the climactic violent scene from the novel’s first part, creating a disturbing uncertainty about Yeong-hye’s fate. While the production occasionally risks oversimplifying the cultural specificity of the novel’s themes regarding the position of women, it ultimately delivers a solid and compelling contribution to Divadlo v Dlouhá’s repertoire. The Vegetarian combines a social statement with a mysterious atmosphere, inviting individual interpretation of themes such as defiance, identity, and the limits of humanity.
Production Details
Based on: Han Kang – Vegetarian
Directed by: Kamila Polívková
Starring: Veronika Lazorčáková, Matyáš Řezníček, Jiří Spišák, Kryštof Melka (alternating with Matěj Piňos and Dominik Žižka), and Radi Klásek (alternating with Michal Vodenko).
Theater: Divadlo v Dlouhá, Prague
Premiere: February 28, with subsequent performances on March 13 and 18.