This year in London we have been fortunate so far to have enjoyed four Korean stage productions: two imports with a run of several weeks each, and two shoestring-budget local productions with a handful of performances. Which would we go to see again? Do the plucky locals win out over the imports? [Read More]
Category: Musicals
Woori Han’s Housemates musical, at the Camden Fringe
Join us for “Housemates,” a comedic gem by Korean playwright Woori Han and Korean composer Su Kim. Set in picturesque ‘Debden,’ this musical invites you on a rollicking journey with two unlikely companions – a Korean and an American – as they navigate shared living and attempt a memorable graduation party. Cultural clashes provide a … [Read More]
Marie Curie: original cast screening + Q&A
To celebrate the West End launch of the award-winning musical ‘Marie Curie‘, the Korean Cultural Centre will offer an opportunity to enjoy a full-length film of the musical with the original Korean cast. The performance being screened was recorded live and features Joo-hyun Ok and So-hyang Kim who both portrayed Marie Curie during the 2020 … [Read More]
Musical: Marie Curie
Marie Curie. Physicist. Pioneer. Parent. Marie Curie is certain that she can make a name for herself and change the course of science in the progress as she arrives from her native Poland to study at Sorbonne University in Paris. When she discovers Radium, a new chemical element, she’s lauded with the Nobel Prize but … [Read More]
April House Concert: The Musical in Concert
Suhyun Christine Kim, Soprano Petur Ernir Svavarsson, Tenor Ian Murray Sutherland Musical Director Whitman Ensemble: Miles Ames Violin, Inis Oirr Asano Viola, George Wikes Cello, James Trowbridge Double Bass Programme All I ask of you & Think of me from Phantom of The Opera, Andrew Lloyd Webber (Soprano, Piano, Ensemble) “Christmas Lullaby” from Song For … [Read More]
Open rehearsal: What Are You Going To Do With Your One And Only Youth?
Based on the true story of Hoe-Young Lee, a Korean independence activist who fought against the Japanese colonial empire in the early 20th century, What Are You Going To Do With Your One And Only Youth is a rehearsed reading of a musical play. Performed by young English artists, British East and South East Asian … [Read More]
Edinburgh 2022: the first weekend of Korean performances
LKL has a packed agenda at the first weekend of the Edinburgh International Festival and Fringe. Edinburgh performers have to put up with all forms of distractions in pursuit of their art. At Dance Base, the Korea National Contemporary Dance Company, whose performance opened in quietness to the sounds of Lee Ilwoo’s solo piri, had … [Read More]
Korean performers at the 2022 Edinburgh Fringe
The Edinburgh Fringe is back, and this year there are nine Korean acts performing. Exciting dance performances, world music, theatre and pansori puppetry: something for everyone. Find all the details here, with booking links to the official Fringe website. Plan your Korean August in Edinburgh here! [Read More]
Korean performers at the 2021 Edinburgh Fringe Online
The Fringe website isn’t so searchable this year but so far I’ve managed to find three Korean groups performing – all available to be watched on demand. For me the highlight will be the return of dancer Sun-hoo Yoo with her production After4. We found the performance in 2017 one of the best things we’ve … [Read More]
Korean performances at Edinburgh Fringe 2019
A quick wordsearch of the 2019 Fringe catalogue provides the following items of Korean interest at the Fringe this year. LKL’s reviews of eight of the shows can be found here. The Happy Prince Children’s Shows (theatre, puppetry) Venue 21 | C venues – C aquila – temple 13:15 | Aug 1-11, 13-18, 20-26 | … [Read More]
A review of the London Korean cultural year 2018
Every year at this stage in the year, I look back on the cultural highlights, whether they be live performances, exhibitions, movies or books that I have encountered over the past twelve months. Every year I lament that I’ve been unable to cover everything, that I’m getting slower and that there’s been even more to … [Read More]
Theatre visit: a changgeuk Trojan Women
An adaptation of a Greek play more than 2400 years old interpreted through the medium of an early 20th century Korean performing practice does not immediately sound a promising theatrical experience, except perhaps to the handful of people who appreciate both Euripides’s take on Homer and Changgeuk’s adaptation of Pansori. Nevertheless, the Purcell Room had … [Read More]
Korean performers at the 2018 Edinburgh Fringe
I make it that there are eleven Korean or Korea-related performances at this year’s Fringe, plus one workshop. It’s nice that Brush Theatre are putting in their regular appearance – always popular with the younger audience – and we have newcomers such as Korean-American stand-up comedian Olivia Rhee and, from Kazakhstan, telling the story of … [Read More]
National Changgeuk Company in Trojan Women
I hope I’m not setting my expectations too high, but I wouldn’t be surprised if this is near the top of my list of events of the year. Trojan Women National Changgeuk Company of Korea | Ong Keng Sen Queen Elizabeth Hall Sat 2 June, 7.30pm | Sun 3 June, 5pm | Tickets £22 – … [Read More]
Theatre visit: 1446 – The Story of King Sejong the Great
Visitors to Seoul’s Gwanghwamun Square, and anyone with a cursory acquaintance with Korean history, will know of the existence of King Sejong. His statue dominates the broad avenue that leads southwards from Gwanghwamun itself, gazing into the distance towards the other great hero of Joseon history, Admiral Yi Sun-shin. Are the life and achievements of … [Read More]
1446, The Musical – the preview of a show on the life of King Sejong
Coming up, there’s a chance to preview the English version of a new Korean musical focusing on the life of King Sejong: 1446 The Musical – Workshop 17 February at 17:00–19:30 The Other Palace Studio | 12 Palace Street | London SW1E 5JA Register via EventBrite After a successful run in Korea last year, we … [Read More]