Experience a unique live event celebrating Korean music, singing and dance in dialogue with objects from Korea and around the world. The British Museum collection provides a stunning backdrop to, and inspiration for, these performances, which blend centuries of cultural history with the energy and immediacy of live shows. From traditional Korean instruments such as … [Read More]
Category: Performance
Plays, musicals, dance
The Goddess is Watching – industry showcase
April 1952, at the height of the Korean War. A small military transport ship carrying both South Korean soldiers and North Korean prisoners is struck by a storm and wrecked near an Island. Six survivors—divided by ideology yet bound by circumstance—wash up on a deserted island. Among them are Captain Yeong-beom, a weary officer haunted … [Read More]
India Blog – industry showcase
Acclaimed Korean play India Blog will take its next steps towards internationalisation with a London showcase on Monday 20 October 2025 at 4:00pm at the Bush Theatre, Shepherd’s Bush. This marks the official start of a two-year cross-cultural development project bringing together Korean and British theatre artists. First premiered in Korea, India Blog has enjoyed … [Read More]
Namoo Chae Lee’s Cancelling Tiger, at the Bloomsbury Festival
An interdisciplinary theatre production that reimagines a Korean folktale through the lens of cancel culture, restorative justice, and the Me Too movement. Blending physical theatre, shamanistic ritual, and digital storytelling, the piece unfolds across Korea, the UK, and the US, tracing two sisters as they confront the fallout of their father’s public disgrace. Rooted in … [Read More]
Review: Swag Age in Concert — A Fusion of Tradition, Rebellion, and Rhythm
Regular followers of my reviews will know that I’m not, in general, a big fan of musicals, Korean or otherwise, having too often experienced and evening of prosaic lyrics shoehorned between the barlines of unmemorable melodies. In addition, I often find with Korean musicals that there is too much plot to fit into the allotted … [Read More]
Interview: Swag Age — Korean tradition in a contemporary musical comes to the West End
Guest contributor Timothy Holm meets the creatives behind the Joseon-era musical Swag Age, and gets to the bottom of the meaning of the catchy Oh-Eh-Oh! chorus. [Read More]
The Musical Swag Age in Concert: Q&A Session with highlights screening
To celebrate the West End premiere of the triple award-winning musical Swag Age: Shout Out, Joseon!, a special talk event with the creative team, along with highlight screenings, will be held at the Korean Cultural Centre. Participants: Kyung-Soo Lee: Director Jung-Yeon Lee: Composer & Music Director Christopher Conder: Moderator Set in a fictional Joseon where … [Read More]
ESEA Culture Festival 2025
Kingston’s ESEA Culture Festival returns in September as part of a borough-wide cultural celebration marking the 1100th anniversary of the crowning of Athelstan, first King of a united England. Live entertainment Chinese Dance – Kingston Chinese Association Hong Kong – Traditional and contemporary music by VIC/ Harmonia, Musical Kidz, and Miss Carol Lee Japan – … [Read More]
New Malden K-POP Awards 2025
Join Mister Woogie for a spectacular evening celebrating the best of K-POP at Beverley Park. Get ready to witness thrilling performances, special guest appearances, and of course, the highly anticipated awards ceremony. Whether you’re a die-hard K-POP fan or just looking for a fun night out, this event is perfect for you. Don’t miss out … [Read More]
Swag Age – the Joseon-era musical – comes to London
A musical storm is about to hit the West End, unlike anything audiences have seen before. The explosive, award-winning Korean phenomenon Swag Age in Concert is making its UK debut in London for one night only blending history, hip-hop and rebellion into a thunderous anthem of freedom. Step into an imagined Joseon Dynasty where the poetry of … [Read More]
Hea Min Jung: Code of Engagement, at the Coronet Theatre
How do the smallest decisions ripple outward, carrying profound impacts that shape our lives? An otherworldly dance performance and immersive installation across two spaces by Korean, Berlin-based dancer and choreographer Hea Min Jung. code of engagement is a spiritual journey through the liminal spaces between childhood and death, where innocence and finality converge. It reveals how the smallest … [Read More]
Sung Im Her: 1 Degree Celsius
Through her electrifying movement style, the choreographer invites us to consider the question of how art can spark action in the face of the climate crisis. Featuring seven dancers, 1 Degree Celsius looks at the topic of climate change and the effects it is having on the environment. As with all Her’s work, music and … [Read More]
Seoul Arts Centre on Screen: Shim Chung
Back by popular demand, Shim Chung returns to the Korean Cultural Centre UK as part of the SAC on Screen series. This beloved ballet, performed by the Universal Ballet Company, retells the timeless Korean folktale of a devoted daughter who sacrifices herself to restore her blind father’s sight — and is miraculously reborn in a … [Read More]
Summers: a play by Heejin Kim
Today, the Earth is quietly heating up. A boy sets out to fight the sun. A girl silently watches over him. Together, they witness a village consumed by fire. The boy becomes an environmentalist. The girl has no choice but to work at a factory to make a living. The boy becomes a “cool” environmentalist—trying … [Read More]
Korean performers at the 2025 Edinburgh Festival and Fringe
The Edinburgh International Festival has announced its programme for 2025, and the Fringe website is up and running with their acts. Below are the performers with Korean connections that we’ve managed to identify so far. We’ll update this post if we discover more productions – it’s likely that this is not a complete list. 1. … [Read More]
Bongsan Talchum: The Spirit of Satire
“Bongsan Talchum—The Spirit of Satire” explores the role of masks, movement, and humour in traditional Korean performance arts. Dating back to the late Joseon Dynasty, this dance-theatre tradition has served as a playful yet sharp critique of power structures, social norms, and human nature. Through the visual exhibits, our exhibition will bring this UNESCO-recognized cultural heritage … [Read More]