Musicals

Think Korea 2006 – an introduction

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by Philip Gowman on 17 August, 2017

in Dance, Event Notices, Experimental & Avant-garde music, Film, Hallyu, Korean traditional music, Musicals, Percussion, Physical theatre & mime, Pop rock and indie, Talks and seminars, Theatre, Western classical music

Think Korea 2006 was an ambitious programme of cultural and other events organised by the Korean Embassy as part of the “Korea-UK Mutual Visit Year”. There was, I believe, a reciprocal series of UK-related events organised in Korea, but I never saw any publicity about it. One event I do know of: the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra […]

Korean performers at the 2017 Edinburgh Fringe

by Events Editor 16 June 2017

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A detailed mining of the Edinburgh Fringe website reveals twenty Korean performances plus one talk this year. Magic show Snap makes a return, along with the ever-popular drum show Tago, both part of a “Korean Season presented by AtoBiz Ltd” – who also bring new acts Kokdu and Ensemble Su. I must say I’m a […]

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Event news: Flatmates v Zombies 2, at Tristan Bates Theatre

by Events Editor 29 September 2016

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If you missed out on Flatmates v Zombies in 2013, as we did, don’t miss its remake. Coming to the Tristan Bates Theatre for one night only. Flatmates v Zombies II A Korean ‘KPop’ comedy zombie horror musical set in London. Tristan Bates Theatre | 1a Tower Street | London WC2H 9NP | www.tristanbatestheatre.co.uk 3 […]

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Miss Saigon to get Korean star

by Philip Gowman 29 January 2014

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Hot on the heels of a Korean star appearing on the West End stage in Les Mis, Miss Saigon is to get a Korean lead in the shape of Hong Kwang-ho starring as Thuy. He appeared in the first Korean production of Miss Saigon a couple of years ago, according to producer Sir Cameron Mackintosh. […]

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Na-Young Jeon to feature in Les Mis in West End

by 앤서방 13 November 2013

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Not sure if this has been flagged up before, but the current production of Les Misérables has a Korean lead in Na-Young Jeon as Fantine. The first Korean lead role in a West End musical? I went last night and she was fantastic, as were the rest of the cast. Na-Yeong Jeon is scheduled for […]

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The ROK Air Force parodies Les Mis

by Philip Gowman 5 February 2013

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For those who, like me, find musicals a bit of a chore, here’s a 13-minute parody of one of my least favourites. It almost makes me want to try the real thing all over again. Almost, but not quite. Well done the ROK Air Force’s 22nd Fighter Wing. Les Miserables ROKAF (Republic of Korea Air […]

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Gumok: a simple, powerful portrayal of the story of a young Comfort Woman

by Philip Gowman 17 July 2012

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In general, my heart sinks when I have to go to a musical. I’ve rarely come across a piece of music theatre from the last 50 years where the quality of the music and lyrics has lived up to the ambition of the production as a whole. The two big Korean musicals that have shown […]

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Gumok, a new musical at the Chelsea Theatre

by Events Editor 14 June 2012

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News of an interesting new musical getting an outing for one day only later this month in Chelsea, featuring the stories of the Korean Comfort Women: Gumok Date: 30th June, 2012 Place: Chelsea Theatre (SW10 0DR) Time: 5pm and 8pm Price: Pay what you like (min. £1) Project Team Gumok presents a new musical “Gumok” […]

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From Local Monsters to BEAST: 1500 years of Korean music and dance at SOAS

by Philip Gowman 17 April 2012

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Last weekend’s free seminar at SOAS ranged from Silla dynasty lion dances to last month’s tour of Taiwan by BEAST, and from ancient Confucian ceremonial music to Samulnori and hip-hop via Trot. Juhae Gu introduced us to the dying musical form of Akkeuk (악극) – a form of stage musical using Trot music. It is […]

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Yun Ho-jin’s musical Hero, on stage in New York

by Philip Gowman 31 August 2011

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“Bombastic” is the New York Times’s view of Yun Ho-jin’s musical Hero http://t.co/2tsHSdf – Exactly what I thought of his previous one, The Last Empress, when it showed in London in 2002 #

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Korean performers at the 2011 Edinburgh Fringe

by Events Editor 30 July 2011

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Korean performers are continuing their tradition of bringing entertaining shows to the Edinburgh Fringe. Alongside the significant Korean productions as part of the main festival this year, you will find physical theatre, puppetry, traditional and indie music, and much more: Gaksi, Mago http://www.edfringe.com/whats-on/theatre/gaksi-mago Category: Theatre Genres: drama Group: Kkachidong Venue: theSpaces @ Surgeons Hall Event […]

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Princess Pyunggang and General Ondal: Korean children bring musical from Seoul

by Events Editor 24 June 2011

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News of an upcoming musical in Kingston and Brighton: Princess Pyunggang and General Ondal From Seoul, this award-winning troupe of multi-talented Korean children and adults present a majestic 21stC remix of an ancient Korean children’s folktale unifying traditional drumming, opera, flag dance and tap to dazzle audiences and inspire endless love and peaceful transformation. Suitable […]

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Jang Jin and performers’ fees

by Philip Gowman 11 November 2010

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Just for once, at the Q&A with Jang Jin tonight, I DIDN'T ask any question about the screen quota. It was an effort though. #. Instead, I asked him about actors fees, which for a significant portion of a film’s budget. But in the news today, it seems film actors aren't the only performers with […]

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Another Sun: It’s educational, but it’s not for foreigners

by Philip Gowman 28 August 2010

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I was chatting to my companion during the interval of Another Sun, the big-budget Korean musical, at Sadlers Wells last night. “It’s educational,” she said, “but I don’t think it’s for foreigners.” I pressed her on the educational point. The plot of the musical is said to be based on the Korean foundation myth about […]

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Another Sun: big budget Korean musical comes to Sadlers Wells

by Events Editor 11 August 2010

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News of a major musical at Sadlers Wells later this month. First, the trailer: Next, the press release. The production is free on emailing the address below: Another Sun The face of musical theatre in London is set to change as a Korean theatre company arrives in the London later this month to perform an […]

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Korean performers at the 2010 Edinburgh Fringe

by Events Editor 1 August 2010

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Gone are the days when the Edinburgh Festival Fringe website had a search engine where you could simply type “Korea” and it would return all the events with Korean performers. So here’s a listing developed with hard graft and elbow grease. The Dream of Sancho Performers: Creative VaQi Date: 8th-14th August 2010 Time: 21:50 (1hr) […]

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Thomas the Tank Engine musical tours Korea

by Philip Gowman 23 March 2010

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Thomas the Tank Engine returns to Korea for a stage musical. Thomas & Friends Live! On Stage: A Circus Comes to Town debuted in Korea in 2007, and this year will tour seven Korean cities: Seoul, Suwon, Gwangju, Jeonju, Seongnam, Daegu and Goyang. Source: Korea Times # Tags: Thomas the Tank Engine | UK-Korea links

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