Playwright In-Sook Chappell and north Korean immigrant and public speaker Timothy Cho discuss the reality of life in North Korea and how that inspired The Free9.

Discussion centres around Timothy’s own personal, traumatic experience of escaping North Korea. One in a series of three films which use interviews to explore the play.

Learning outcomes

The Free9 is a set text for GCSE Drama. This film is designed to support the teaching of this text on the curriculum.

Dorfman Theatre, 2018 (Connections Festival).

The Free9 by In-Sook Chappell; directed by Nell Hardy; music by Nell Hardy, Mia Clifford & Nicola Chang; choreography by Leah Cadogan.

Suitability

Content warning

References to physical violence, drug use and themes some people may find distressing

In-Sook Chappell, Jennifer Tang, Laos Nine, North Korea, new writing, immigration, GCSE Drama, Pearson Edexcel