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Korea focus in Greenwich & Docklands International Festival

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One of the first performance arts projects of Korea/UK 2017-2018 is a focus on Korean performers at this month’s Greenwich + Docklands International Festival – “London’s leading festival of free outdoor performing arts (theatre, dance, and street arts), an annual 9/10-day celebration of extraordinary outdoor events that transform people’s lives.”

Three acts perform in the Greenwich Fair, 23 -25 June, while Modern Table, who gave us Darkness Poomba at K-Music 2016, will be performing in Canary Wharf on 1 July. One of the acts, Massager, is looking for volunteers to participate in their art therapy / performance art creation.

Supported by the Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism, Republic of Korea, Korea Arts Management Service, Centre Stage Korea, the Korean Cultural Centre UK and Arts Council England.

With one of the acts (Metamorphosis) it’s best to keep an eye on the festival website, which currently is unclear as to whether the performance is by the Cutty Sark or up at the top of the hill in the Park – my guess is the former.

The Border of the Water; The Song of the Wind

23 – 24 June 2017 | 10pm | Duration: Approx. 40 mins
In front of General James Woolfe Statue, Greenwich Park, SE10 8XJ [Map]
Type: Dance, No spoken word, Participation, Theatre
Presented by Creative Group SUM BI
Programme: Greenwich Fair
Event URI: www.festival.org/whatson/305/the-border-of-the-water-the-song-of-the-wind/

Sumbi

An entrancing dance duet performed within a column of water and set against a night-time backdrop of Maritime Greenwich, the Thames and Canary Wharf beyond.

Creative Group SUM BI, based in Seoul, produce experimental work on roofs, in corridors and on the street, inviting audiences into their fascinating, synesthetic experiences.

Massager

24 – 25 June 2017 | 3pm, 8pm (Sat) 1pm, 6pm (Sun) | Duration: Approx. 60 mins
Greenwich Park, SE10 8XJ [Map]
Presented by CCOT
Type: Participation, Theatre
Programme: Greenwich Fair
Event URI: www.festival.org/whatson/304/massager/

Massager

The audience is co-creator in CCOT’s ritualistic Massager where community participants will be trained to give paper massages to others, creating ‘Paper Humans’ whose susceptibility to wind, water and fire reminds us of the fragility of life.

CCOT is a troupe of performers, painters and musicians led by Director Cheolsung Lee and based in Gyeonggi-do. It was established in Jerusalem in 2000 by Cheolsung Lee and Jinyoung Kim, who were both studying at The School of Visual Theater in Jerusalem, Israel. CCOT has presented its visual performances in Europe, South America and Asia.

Be part of the show
We are looking for people to take part in pre-show workshops during which you’ll be trained as a ‘paper massager’ by members of the company. You will be shown how to cover members of the public in paper to create copies of the body known as ‘Paper Humans’ in a show that’s part art therapy and part outdoor arts performance. On performance days you will help create the paper humans which are then animated before succumbing to the elements of wind, fire and water. Minimum age 18+

Sign up, or find out more, by emailing Cleo Ingham
[email protected] or call 020 8305 5023

Metamorphosis

24 – 25 June 2017 | 2.20pm, 5.10pm (Sat) 12pm, 4.15pm (Sun) | Duration: Approx 20 mins
Cutty Sark Gardens, London SE10 9HT [Map]
Presented by People In Backpack
Programme: Greenwich Fair
Type: No spoken word | Family friendly

Metamorphosis

This puppetry performance, inspired by Kafka’s great work, promises to delight and surprise Festival audiences at the top of Greenwich Park hill.

People in Backpack, from South Korea, create performances based on social and personal experiences.

Men of Steel

1 July 2017 | 2.20pm | Duration: Approx 55 mins
Jubilee Plaza, Canary Wharf London E14 [Map]
Type: Dance | Family friendly
Presented by Modern Table
Programme: Dancing City
Event URI: www.festival.org/whatson/317/men-of-steel/

Modern Table is an all-male company from Seoul, South Korea making a rare UK appearance at Dancing City with Men of Steel. This striking performance explores confrontation through a series of rhythmic and highly physical interactions that draw on contemporary dance, Pansori, rock and hip-hop.

 

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