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The Coronet Theatre’s “Tiger is Coming” festival: don’t miss any of it.

Tiger is Coming festival

How long have we all been wanting Leenalchi and the Ambiguous Dance Company to come to London? Probably ever since their Naver Onstage performance went viral on social media.

The piece they were performing was Tiger is Coming, which turned out to be the opening track of their subsequent album, Sugungga, a retelling of one of the five surviving stories of the Korean pansori canon. That album and the series of Korean Tourism Organisation videos kept them front of mind, and the colourful costumes and eccentric moves of the Ambiguous Dance Company led to a collaboration with British band Coldplay:

Now Leenalchi’s track Tiger is Coming has given its name to a hugely ambitious and exciting festival of Korean performing and visual arts at the Coronet Theatre this September. Leenalchi will be opening the festival by performing their album live for three consecutive nights. For this occasion the seating will be removed from the theatre, as Leenalchi will be performing without the Ambiguous Dance Company: instead, they expect the audience to provide the quirky dance moves. But you can look forward to a separate, standalone, appearance by the Ambiguous Dance Company later in the festival.

Work by Choi Jeong Hwa

Throughout the festival, the theatre will be adorned inside and out with artworks by Choi Jeong-hwa, who did much of the interior design work for the Korean Cultural Centre UK and gave the first solo show there. He has also exhibited work at Asia House and outside at the South Bank Centre.

Collective A

For me, I’m expecting the highlight of the festival to be Cha Jin-yeob’s Collective A performing Body-go-Round. Her performances always merit a number of viewings (LKL attended all three of her Dream Ritual performances in 2019, and regret not booking for both of her performances at the Festival of Korean Dance this year). The combination of innovative choreography with stunning visuals and interesting music provides an absolute feast for the spirit. We’ve booked for both nights of her run (though the truly dedicated would also book the Saturday matinee performance). Her Saturday performance is followed by an intimate showcase by haihm, who was responsible for the music for Dream Ritual.

The festival’s programme is rounded out by dance films from Kim Modeun, a theatre production from Dolpagu that explores gender issues, and hi-tech music and visuals from Tacit Group.

A perfect way to set you up for the Autumn, Seriously, don’t miss any of it.

The official introductory text from the Coronet Theatre follows:

South Korea is home to one of the oldest and also the most vibrant, inventive and astounding new cultures in the modern world. From 26 August and throughout September The Coronet Theatre presents TIGER IS COMING – a celebration of contemporary Korean art, performance and culture.

With a dazzling mix of music, pop, dance, theatre, performance and art – TIGER IS COMING showcases some of South Korea’s most famous artists, coming to the UK for the first time.

From artist Choi Jeong Hwa whose lively, vibrant, large-scale, inflatable pieces will encase the Coronet Theatre façade, to global dance sensations Ambiguous, and Korean pop icons, Leenalchi, this festival brings the buzz and excitement of the current Korean arts scene to London.

Anda Winters, Artistic Director ’I have been going to Korea for many years and fell in love with the culture. I have observed it growing further and faster culturally and economically than any other I’ve seen. Their commitment to and investment in arts has produced a very visual, energetic and quirky artistic landscape, and I want to share the thrill of it with UK audiences.’

Choi Jeong Hwa: Tiger, Journey, Love
A major exhibition of the world renowned installation artist’s work
26 Aug – 01 Oct

Leenalchi: Sugungga Live
South Korean music icons Leenalchi perform live in the UK for the first time ever
10 – 12 Sep

Kim Modeun: Modeun Tour: The Path of the Body
A free screening of six extraordinary dance films
13 – 15 Sep

Ambiguous Dance Company: Body Concert
A fresh, exciting and electric evening of genre-defying dance from international dance sensation Ambiguous Dance Company
16 – 18 Sep

Collective A: Body-Go-Round
A genre-bending, mixed reality, dance spectacle from visionary choreographer Cha Jinyeob and collective A
23 – 24 Sep

haihm: Nowhere
An intimate live set of meticulously crafted and captivating ambient rhythms from Seoul based electronic musician & producer haihm
24 Sep

Tacit Group: tacit.perform[o]
A unique and riveting contemporary live music experience
26 – 28 Sep

Dolpagu: XXL Leotard and Anna Sui Hand Mirror
A groundbreaking theatre production exploring gender and social class across generations
29 Sep – 01 Oct