#daehak-ro
Traditional Poomba is an adaptation of Gakseori Taryeong (song of singing beggars) that expresses the sorrows, frustrations and anger of peasants and beggars who feel oppressed and struggle to survive.
Darkness Poomba is a modern interpretation of the piece, expressing the social anxiety felt by people today, reshaping the past to explore the future. The production is masterfully brought to life by Modern Table, a Korean contemporary dance company. Their performance style is powerful, passionate, sophisticated, and aggressive. They use the space in the unconventional way, removing the boundaries between the stage and the audience.
Darkness Poomba will take you on an unexpected journey and possibly change the way you see contemporary dance, traditional song and rock music forever.
WHEN: Oct 10-27
WHERE: YES24 Stage Hall 2 (21, Daehak-ro 12-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul) 예스24스테이지 2관 (서울 종로구 대학로12길 21)
HOW MUCH: 40000KRW / R seat, 30000KRW / S seat
HOW LONG: 60 mins
The play Camel Xiangzi is based on Lao She’s Rickshaw Boy, a novel that is considered a classic of 20th-century Chinese literature.
The protagonist is an orphan peasant who leaves for Beijing to earn a living. Xiangzi is a young, hardworking, well-built rickshaw puller who dreams of owning his own rickshaw. Just when he has earned enough to buy one, it is confiscated by warlord soldiers.
The harsh realities of life taught Xiangzi that decency and hard work have little meaning in this pragmatic, dog-eat-dog world. He becomes a lazy, degenerate and unscrupulous good-for-nothing, no different from those he looked down on early in his life, spending his days gambling, cheating and whoring.
WHEN: open run
WHERE: Daehangno Arts Theater Main Hall (17, Daehak-ro 10-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul) 대학로예술극장 대극장 (서울 종로구 대학로10길 17)
HOW MUCH: 40000KRW / R seat, 30000KRW / S seat, 20000KRW / A seat
HOW LONG: 100 mins
The play Camel Xiangzi is based on Lao She’s Rickshaw Boy, a novel that is considered a classic of 20th-century Chinese literature.
The protagonist is an orphan peasant who leaves for Beijing to earn a living. Xiangzi is a young, hardworking, well-built rickshaw puller who dreams of owning his own rickshaw. Just when he has earned enough to buy one, it is confiscated by warlord soldiers.
The harsh realities of life taught Xiangzi that decency and hard work have little meaning in this pragmatic, dog-eat-dog world. He becomes a lazy, degenerate and unscrupulous good-for-nothing, no different from those he looked down on early in his life, spending his days gambling, cheating and whoring.
WHEN: open run
WHERE: Daehangno Arts Theater Main Hall (17, Daehak-ro 10-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul) 대학로예술극장 대극장 (서울 종로구 대학로10길 17)
HOW MUCH: 40000KRW / R seat, 30000KRW / S seat, 20000KRW / A seat
HOW LONG: 100 mins
Daehak-ro Festival: THE ART OF SEDUCTION The Musical
The Art of Seduction tells a story of an Internet cartoon author Poong reuniting with his first love Byeol. Things get a bit more complicated when Byeol’s twin sister Dal joins the story (both sisters are played by the same actress). The relationship between the characters very much play into famous a push-and-pull dynamics. It’s a delightful cheeky musical that will remind you of the feelings of first love, first romance, shyness and tremble.
WHEN: open run
WHERE: Art Forest 2, Daehak-ro (5F) (22, Daehak-ro 12-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul) 대학로 아트포레스트 2관(5F) (서울 종로구 대학로12길 22)
HOW MUCH: 40000KRW
HOW LONG: 90 mins
Daehak-ro Festival: THE ART OF SEDUCTION The Musical
The Art of Seduction tells a story of an Internet cartoon author Poong reuniting with his first love Byeol. Things get a bit more complicated when Byeol’s twin sister Dal joins the story (both sisters are played by the same actress). The relationship between the characters very much play into famous a push-and-pull dynamics. It’s a delightful cheeky musical that will remind you of the feelings of first love, first romance, shyness and tremble.
WHEN: open run
WHERE: Art Forest 2, Daehak-ro (5F) (22, Daehak-ro 12-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul) 대학로 아트포레스트 2관(5F) (서울 종로구 대학로12길 22)
HOW MUCH: 40000KRW
HOW LONG: 90 mins
WELCOME DAEHAKRO is a wonderful festival taking place in Seoul this autumn and on October 6th the festival held a great showcase highlighting the most popular non-verbal performances in the city this season!
Meet the musicals!
Get your information on the official website.
Or at the official Information & Ticket Box Booth, located between the Exits 1 and 2 of Hyewha station.
WELCOME DAEHAKRO is a wonderful festival taking place in Seoul this autumn and on October 6th the festival held a great showcase highlighting the most popular non-verbal performances in the city this season!
Meet the musicals!
Get your information on the official website.
Or at the official Information & Ticket Box Booth, located between the Exits 1 and 2 of Hyewha station.
Daehak-ro Festival: YOU & IT The Musical
YOU & IT is an incredibly touching love story between a human and an AI. It reminded me of Steven Spielberg’s Artificial Intelligence, but with a romantic twist.
The musical opens with a devastated husband mourning his wife’s death. Drowning in his heartbreak, not knowing ho to continue on living, Gyujin receives a letter claiming that an AI robot can be created in the exact replica of his beloved Mina. He decided to take the chance and uploads Mina’s memories to the machine. AI robot does, indeed, look exactly like his late wife and even shows the same personality traits. Life picks up and the couple seems happy, but is the AI truly the same as his human Mina? What does it mean to love and can a machine have true feelings?
The musical is touching and raw. Halfway through the performance I noticed that I wasn’t the only one crying – the feelings of the main characters echoed through the audience and touched our hearts deeply. After the performance ended I saw a little girl crying in the bathroom of the theater, her mom was trying to console her, but the girl kept crying so hard, that her dad had to carry her put of the theater. I think moments like this are what the artists work for - to bring out our feelings, our thoughts, to make us relieve the character’s ups and downs as our own. Beautiful performance by a talented cast and wonderful job by the scriptwriter and director!
WHEN: Oct 2-6
WHERE: YES24 Stage Hall 2 (21, Daehak-ro 12-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul) 예스24스테이지 2관 (서울 종로구 대학로12길 21)
HOW MUCH: 50000KRW / R seat, 40000KRW / S seat
HOW LONG: 90 mins
Daehak-ro Festival: ONE MORE TIME The Musical
One More Time tells a story of one day repeating over and over again. Much like the hero of “Groundhog Day,” the hero is bound to relive his mistakes in a never ending cycle.
In the center of the story is a young man Yu-tan, a leader and vocalist of an indie band called One More Time. Once full with excitement and creative energy, now he finds himself full of doubts and disappointment. He lets the irritation and exhaustion get the best of him and as a result of a series of his decisions, alienates his best friends and band members Jin-guk and Da-in.
In real life we rarely get a chance for a “one more time” at love or friendship, so watching Yu-tan first try to make sense of it and later - make the best of it, is not only entertaining but touching and thought provoking.
One More Time is a beautiful romantic musical. Performed by 5 actors, and a star cast of idol singers, Yu-na from AOA and Hyo-eun from Stellar.
WHEN: Sep 7 - Oct 27
WHERE: Theater 2, Dongyang Arts Center (27, Daehak-ro 14-gil, Jongno-gu) 동양예술극장 2관 (서울 종로구 대학로14길 27)
HOW MUCH: 60000KRW / R seat, 45000KRW / S seat
HOW LONG: 90 mins
DAEHAKRO: Korean Broadway
To give you an idea, Daehak-ro is the Korean version of Broadway. If you want to truly experience Korean performing arts such as musicals, theatre plays and non-verbal performances, this is the place to check out!
WELCOME DAEHAKRO is a festival that takes place from September 2nd to October 27th 2019. This annual festival was first held in autumn 2017. If you happen to be in Seoul in autumn, make the best of this wonderful opportunity to dive into Daehakro diverse cultural and arts programs: discover new musicals, enjoy the renditions of internationally known musicals, meet K-musical stars and more!
As you can see on the photos, the whole Hyehwa subway station is transformed into a showcase of the most prominent performances of this season!
Get your information on the official website.
Or at the official Information & Ticket Box Booth, located between the Exits 1 and 2 of Hyewha station.
