Courtesy of Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism
The Korean original musical “Marie Curie” will debut on London’s West End on Saturday, marking the first time a Korean production is staged in English in one of the two major international theater districts, alongside New York’s Broadway. The musical will be performed at the 265-seat Charing Cross Theatre until July 28.
The Culture Ministry plans to promote the show through media talks with the cast on June 7 and joint concerts by Korean and UK actors on June 10. The cast features 11 British actors.
Produced by LIVE Corp. President Kang Byung-won, the musical involves a British creative team led by director Sarah Meadows, music director Emma Fraser, and choreographer Joanna Goodwin. Tom Ramsay and Ahreumbi Rew handled the English book adaptation and literal translation, respectively.
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| ▲ Poster for “Marie Curie” / Courtesy of Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism |
“Marie Curie” has received multiple accolades, including five awards at the Korea Musical Awards in 2021 and the “Golden Watering Can” award at Poland’s Music Gardens Festival in 2022.
A Culture Ministry official indicated optimism about the two-month West End run, suggesting it could lead to an extended performance period or a move to a larger venue. A successful run may pave the way for a Broadway debut, the official added.
The ministry is currently revising funding rules to ensure all government-supported musicals are created with potential international showcases in mind. The changes could be implemented as early as next year.
Sayart
Joy, nunimbos@gmail.com
