Actor Song Seung-hwan Counts Steps in the Dark to Keep Performing
Creatrip Team
6 months ago
Veteran actor Song Seung-hwan (69), who was diagnosed with visual impairment in 2018 and now has a field of vision of about 30 cm, is performing as Norman in the Korean staging of The Dresser. Because he cannot rely on sight during blackouts on stage, Song memorizes precise step counts and prop positions—numbers like “11 and 3” or “7 and 3”—to find entrances and marks. After decades in theater and production, he chose to play Norman (a dresser who assists an aging actor) this season rather than the older lead he played previously. Song adapted quickly after his diagnosis by learning accessibility tools—text-to-speech and AI-generated audio subtitles—for scripts, films, and messages, and says losing sight has paradoxically sharpened his listening and reactions on stage. He continues directing, producing, and running a YouTube channel interviewing elder artists, and hopes well-made commercial plays can draw larger audiences to Korean theater. (The Dresser: Ronald Harwood play)
