Make sure you’re in town for this. We hear that it’s as good as their Trojan Women, which means it’s probably the best thing you’ll experience in London this year. Oh, except that Lee Heemoon will be here in November. We’re in for a treat.
K-music 2024: National Changgeuk Company — Lear
Discover this visionary restaging of one of Shakespeare’s greatest tragedies into a spellbinding traditional opera from some of South Korea’s leading creatives, performers and musicians.
This major new production, critically acclaimed at its premiere in 2022, retells a familiar story in the form of Changgeuk. This culturally significant and artistically rich theatrical form in Korea, blends music, dance, and drama to create immersive storytelling experiences rooted in Korean tradition and heritage.
Leading creatives include director and choreographer Jung Young-doo, Pai Sam-shik, one of the greatest playwrights of Korea, Pansori scores composed by Han Seung-seok, with music written by Jung Jae-il (Parasite, Squid Game). Lee Tae-Sup’s stunning set design brings a quiet but vibrant world of water on stage, drawing us to the deep, bottomless abyss of the human mind.
Here’s a brief interview with Kim Junsu, who plays Lear in the production:
The National Changgeuk Company of Korea is part of the National Theatre of Korea, and it has been presenting traditional Korean opera for the past six decades.