By Korea.net Honorary Reporter Celena Davis from Jamaica
Photos = Korean Cultural Center in the U.K.

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is the world’s largest arts gala, celebrating art in all its various forms and glory. Acts from around the globe delight audiences at numerous locations dotted around the Scottish capital. Every year brings new acts as well as returning favorites. Over the last few years, Korean acts have grown more frequent in the event, and Korean artists performing on this global stage provide a golden opportunity for Korean culture to reach new audiences.

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe London Showcase gave Londoners a taste of the Korean acts on offer at the festival this year. Spectators were treated to four acts performing at the Lilian Baylis Studio, a modern comfy theater that is part of Sadler’s Wells Theatre, one of the world’s leading dance venues.

“Sweet Tango-Korean Tango Music” by Gena Tango

The first Korean act on stage was Gena Tango, who performed in the opening ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The group combines the intense passion of Argentine tango with traditional Korean instruments to create a unique genre that is sweet and delightful.

Upon entering the theater and taking their seats, the audience was greeted by an array of instruments both Western and traditional Korean including the haegeum (Korean fiddle), jangu (Korean drum), violin and piano. These instruments were beautifully arranged and raised the audience’s anticipation of the performance to come. Under bright red lights, Gena Tango members, all dressed in baby pink, took their places behind their instruments. The welcome applause died down and a hush descended over the audience. Then the silence was broken. The instruments seamlessly blended together to produce magical sounds filling every crevice of the theater and captivating each spectator. This introductory number was followed by sweet instrumental and vocal harmony pieces, the last being a Gena Tango take on “Roxanne” by the Police. The mesmerizing performance saw the sweetness of the music carrying the audience away on a cloud to faraway lands. In short, Gena Tango was the perfect opening act for a wonderful night ahead.



“Black and White Team Room-Counselor” by Theatre Hooam

Following the sweet sounds of Gena Tango, it was time for a more somber performance. Enter Theatre Hooam, who returned to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this year to put on its award-winning play “Black and White Team Room Counselor.” The plot is about a counselor who works in a tea room but takes a day off every year on the anniversary of his wife’s death. A strange new client insists on being seen on the counselor's day off. During the course of the counseling session, both men discover that they each have a bitter history and a psychological battle ensues. This gripping work had the audience on the edge of their seats in taking them on an emotional journey.



“Just One Wise Life” by Theater Stranger

Fresh from intermission, the audience returned to a theater full of cold, mist-like air (perfect conditions for those tired of the London heatwave) and a fridge in the middle of the stage. This is how Theater Stranger kicked off its performance of “Just One Wise Life.” The fridge doors opened to display footage of the moon landing on a small screen. Following this unusual opening and a humorous welcome in both Korean and English, the audience was transported to the weird and wonderful world created by Theater Strange. The work depicts the lives of seven ordinary people while questioning the ethics of contemporary society through everyday scenarios (such as taking a bath and doing one’s job) but presented in creative ways. Such scenes were interrupted by random dance breaks that were hilarious and crazy yet fully choreographed. Hands, feet, bubbles and paper cutouts popped out of the fridge at times accompanied by music. “Just One Wise Life” provided great entertainment filled with colorful costumes, lively dance music, crazy props and even crazier dancing. Most importantly, the work answered the frequently asked question “How many people can fit in a fridge?” According to this play, the answer is seven. This uplifting spectacle had everyone on their feet by the end.



“About Lady White Fox with Nine Tails" by YVUA ARTS

The final play for a thoroughly spoiled audience was the award-winning “About Lady White Fox with Nine Tails” by YVUA ARTS. This fascinating production combines Shakespeare’s Macbeth with the ancient Korean legend of the white fox gumiho. According to Korean myth, a fox that lives a thousand years will turn into a gumiho, which can transform into a beautiful woman to seduce men and eat their livers. This being can become human by consuming a thousand livers over a millennium. The focus of this play is on the protagonist gumiho’s mission to consume one final liver to become human. Innovative costumes, dramatic performances and traditional Korean instruments made this work highly memorable for the audience. The exorcism scene was especially entertaining, bursting with exaggeration and brilliant costumes that incorporated traditional Korean instruments (e.g the janggu) and contemporary references to add a sprinkle of humor. Livelier than the average Shakespeare performance, “About Lady White Fox with Nine Tails” combined classic Western literature with East Asian mythology to create an entertaining performance for all.

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe London Showcase provided a thoroughly entertaining night filled with wonderful and lively performances by a host of talented acts.

This short poem, written in the manner of a Korean sijo (traditional Korean poetic form), expresses my impression of the showcase.

Korean acts perform in London en route to Edinburgh.
Traditional Korean instruments sweeten the intense tango rhythms.
This creates a unique music genre full of magical sounds.

wisdom117@korea.kr

* This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.