Korean culture comes to the Fringe: Handpicked acts to wow Edinburgh in 2024
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Four shows are selected for the 2024 Korean Season, 26 years on from when the first Korean work made its debut at the world’s cultural highlight of the year.
And the second Seoul Arts Awards will be held on Mon 12 Aug at 3.45pm in the Assembly Ballroom
The 2024 Korean season shows are:
· ARI: The Spirit of Korea | Assembly Hall (Main Hall) | Thu 1 - Sun 25 Aug
· Black and White Tea Room: Counsellor | Assembly Rooms (Front Room) Thu 1 - Sun 25 Aug
· Sleeper | Assembly @ Dance Base (Dance Base 1) | Fri 2 - Sun 18 Aug
· You&It: The Musical | Assembly Checkpoint | Thu 1 - Sun 25 Aug
2024 also marks the 26th anniversary of Korean work first being shown in Edinburgh. Still touring internationally to this day, Cookin’ is the longest-running show in South Korean history.
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ARI: The Spirit of Korea
Winner of the Best Physical Theatre Award 2023 at the Adelaide Fringe. ARI: THE Spirit of Korea is a musical created from the story of Arirang; an old Korean folk song from over 600 years ago, originating from Jeongseon in South Korea's Gangwon Province. In this version, ARI: THE Spirit of Korea tells this beautiful story through different genres including Korean dance, Martial Arts and traditional Korean drumming and is a bright and colourful musical spectacle.
The traditional tale of the ‘Jeongseon’ Arirang is a love story between a man and a woman separated by two rivers, ending in a tragic romance where the man dies. In this production, the company has changed it to focus on a family and unite the couple in marriage. The couple's child sings a new version of the Arirang that their parents used to sing. The child's surname 'Shin' symbolises 'new.' The grandmother sings the traditional Arirang and the father represents the middle generation's Arirang. The child brings a fresh take on Arirang, showcasing the diverse charm of Arirang and making it relatable across the different generations. The music is based on the melody of Arirang, but this production is adapted to include both modern and traditional instruments and arrangements.
Arirang translates as ‘My Beloved One’ and this production offers an audience a taste of Korean culture that resonates globally.
Recognised twice by UNESCO, ARI is celebrated for its vibrant music and storytelling and will take its audiences on a profound emotional journey, echoing Korea's rich cultural heritage. '...a feast for the soul; it’s uplifting, magical and wondrous' ★★★★★ TheAUReview.com
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Black and White Tearoom: Counsellor
Theatre Hooam makes a welcome return to the 2024 Edinburgh Festival Fringe with the award-winning BLACK AND WHITE TEAROOM. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the play steps back onto the global stage and explores the profound psychological conflicts faced by individuals entwined within the fabric of societal structural contradictions and the tumult of unstable political climates and stands as a testament to the healing power of storytelling, offering solace to a generation scarred by political strife. “...a brilliant psychological drama with dark and traumatic twists’” ★★★★ The Wee Review
BLACK AND WHITE TEAROOM has received numerous awards including 'Best Performance' at the Duo Festival (Seoul) and 'Best Actor' and a 'Special Award' at the Tokyo Tiny-Alice Festival. Recently, the play was invited to the Romanian Sibiu Festival in 2022, the New City Theatre in Manhattan, New York and the 2023 Adelaide Fringe in Australia.
SLEEPER
Programmed by Dance Base in collaboration with Assembly Festival, SLEEPER is a beautiful partnership for a sustainable tomorrow, creating new perspectives on contemporary Korean traditional performing arts. Led by the choreographer Kim Yu-mi, a dance artist who meticulously deconstructs Korean dance and transforms it using a modern dance language that emphasises movement and imagination based on play and philosophy.
Inspired by Paulo Coelho's book 'The Fifth Mountain', the process began with many challenges including the absence of dancers and other constraints, the choreographer felt that she was starting alone in a vast, empty field. In Coelho's book, the question arises: "Why do you cling to such a short and pain-filled existence? What is the meaning of your struggle?" Seeking answers to this question, she was drawn into the narrative. Amidst the climate crisis and the weariness of humanity, Kim Yu-mi aimed to recreate the 'fire of revival' that Coelho spoke of. To set the overall mood of her work, she contrasted the elements of 'fire' and ‘water'. In the book, fire is not a destructive force but one that breaks down old barriers and opens up new possibilities for humans. It represents the courage to burn away the old, embrace inner pain, discard everything, and move forward, taking responsibility for one's life. Through the dual nature of fire, she wanted to depict the human ability to overcome crises.
Similarly, the fear and renewal associated with the overflowing of water are woven into the dance work. To balance these elements, the final act integrates the subtleness, tranquility, and concentrated power of Korean essence, symbolising purification and renewal.
YOU&IT: THE MUSICAL
What makes a human human? YOU&IT: THE MUSICAL tells a beautiful and sad love story. A husband is unable to forget his deceased wife who dies in an accident. He brings her back to like using AI. The voice, smile and way of speaking are identical to hers, but she looks unfamiliar. He lives every day believing everything will be okay as long as she is by his side. Will they ever be able to return to their normal, happy life?
YOU&IT: THE MUSICAL attempts to meaningfully reflect on human dignity and the importance of love and asks the philosophical question "What makes a human being human?”. It conveys the message of the importance of life and love in a modern era where communication between people has been cut off in the age of nano-society.
With a cast of two, YOU&IT: THE MUSICAL sings about the value of love.
Honouring success and celebrating the season
In addition to the Korean Season, on Monday 12 August at 15.45hrs, the second Seoul Arts Awards will be held in the Ballroom of the Assembly Rooms. This event includes highlights from the 2024 Korean season and up to five awards will be presented to international work. The Seoul Arts Awards were set up to celebrate and encourage a global cultural exchange of performing arts without language barriers.
Each winner will receive an opportunity to perform in the Republic of Korea.
LISTINGS: 2024 Korean Season
ARI: The Spirit of Korea
Assembly Hall (Main Hall)
Thu 1 - Sun 25 Aug (excluding 12 & 19)
13:30hrs (1h)
Aug 1 (Preview) 1 - £12.00
Aug 2-6, 9-11, 16-18, 23-25 - £18.00 (£17.00)
Aug 7-8, 13-15, 20-22 - £16.00 (£15.00)
www.assemblyfestival.com / 0131 623 3030
Black and White Tearoom - Counsellor
Assembly Rooms (Front Room)
Thu 1 - Sun 25 Aug (excluding 12 & 19)
12:40 (1h)
Aug 1 (Preview) 12:40 - £7.00
Aug 2-6, 9-11, 16-18, 23-25 - £13.00 (£12.00)
Aug 7-8, 13-15, 20-22 - £12.00 (£11.00)
www.assemblyfestival.com / 0131 623 3030
Sleeper
Assembly @ Dance Base (Dance Base1)
Fri 2 - Sun 18 Aug (excluding 7 & 12)
20:30hrs (45 mins)
Aug 2-6, 9-11, 16-18 - £15.00 (£14.00)
Aug 8, 13-15 - £14.00 (£13.00)
www.assemblyfestival.com / 0131 623 3030
You&It: The Musical
Assembly (Checkpoint)
Thu 1 - Sun 25 Aug (excluding 12 & 19)
15:55 (1 hr)
Aug 1 (Preview) 15:55: £10.00
Aug 2-6, 9-11, 16-18, 23-25 - £15.50 (£14.50)
Aug 7-8, 13-15, 20-22 - £13.50 (£12.50)
www.assemblyfestival.com / 0131 623 3030