Theatre 1981 evolved out of the Korean American Avant Garde Theatre: Korean-American artists dedicated to feminist and antiwar themes. The pieces were written by Ja Kyung Rhee and directed by her husband, filmmaker Ik Tae Rhee, the group's only male. Other founding collaborators included painter and performance artist Hye Sook, the principal performer in the series, playwright So Hyun Chang, filmmaker Hye Sook Yoo and fashion designer Kimmi Song, along with a number of other participants.