As Chuseok approaches, it’s time once again for the Thames Festival: 12-13 September. This will be the third year that there has been a significant Korean presence. The amazing Dulsori led the way three years ago; last year the high-profile item was Jump. This year we get the musical essence of contemporary Korea, Sorea: a mix of traditional instruments and modern rhythms.
In addition, there will be cookery demonstrations, traditional dances, taekwondo demonstrations and two screenings of Kim Ji-woon’s roisterous western, The Good, the Bad and the Weird. 60 performers in all.
The venue is the Scoop, near the London Assembly building, between Tower Bridge and HMS Belfast [Map]
The full programme is set out below.
Saturday 12 September
12noon & 5pm – Korean Traditional Dance – Korean Dance has its roots in the shamanistic rituals of 3000 years ago and now combines folk traditions with newly choreographed and adapted contemporary dance.
1.15 & 5.30pm – Taekwondo Demonstration – World class demonstrations from the Korean National Sport University’s touring team
2.30pm – Han-sik, a Master Class in Korean Cooking – An introduction to Korean traditional dishes served by courtiers in exquisite Korean Royal dress
3.30 & 6.30pm – Monster Theatre, SOREA – An amazing fusion of contemporary music played on traditional Korean instruments with beats and high octane breakdancing (though the Cultural Centre are unable to confirm whether there will be any b-boys present)
7.45pm – The Good The Bad The Weird – Kim Jee-Woon’s 2008 film set in the 1930’s Manchurian desert, 3 Korean men fatefully meet on a train, the discovery of a mysterious map leads them on a journey of imminent danger and turbulent times, battling with the Japanese Army and Asian Bandits.
Sunday
3.30pm – Taekwondo Demonstration
4.30pm – Korean Traditional Dance
5.30pm – Han-sik, a Master Class in Korean Cooking
6.15pm – Monster Theatre, SOREA
7.45pm – The Good The Bad The Weird
Links:
- A Scoop of Korea page on the Thames Festival website
(automatically generated) Read LKL’s review of this event here.