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Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Can Kim Soo-ha's performance in London change the perception of Korean musicals worldwide?
Actor Kim Soo-ha will appear in London's West End this September in a special one-night concert performance of the Korean musical 'Swag Age'. The performance will take place at the Gillian Lynne Theatre on September 8. Kim, 31, debuted in the West End in 2014 as the second cover for the lead role in 'Miss Saigon', later performing the role more than 30 times during her first run. Over the next four years, she worked across the UK, Germany, Switzerland, and Japan before returning to Korea in 2019 to join 'Swag Age'. The musical, developed in 2017 as a student project at the Seoul Institute of the Arts, combines Joseon dynasty history with hip-hop and Korean traditional music, earning multiple awards and professional runs in Korea. Korean original musicals gaining global visibility Kim's upcoming performance comes at a time when Korean original musicals are expanding their presence internationally. In June 2025, ' Maybe Happy Ending ', a domestic production set in Seoul about two obsolete helper robots, won six awards at the 78th Tony Awards in New York, including Best musical. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Use an AI Writing Tool That Actually Understands Your Voice Grammarly Install Now Undo It was the first time a Korean-created musical had won the top Tony award for best musical. Additional awards included best direction, Best leading actor, Best book, Best original score, and Best scenic design. The success marked a major milestone in the international recognition of Korean musical theatre. Significance of the Tony Award win Industry analysts view 'Maybe Happy Ending's Tony win as a significant step for Korea's cultural exports. The production's fusion of Korean and Western musical influences demonstrated the potential for local content to resonate globally. The achievement is seen as opening more opportunities for Korean musicals to be produced and staged overseas, alongside established Western works. According to theatre producers, international audiences are showing increasing interest in distinctive cultural narratives, creating new markets for Korean original productions. Outlook for Korean musical theatre abroad Kim Soo-ha's appearance in London and 'Maybe Happy Ending's Tony Award sweep suggest positive momentum for Korean musicals in major theatre markets. Both developments highlight the ability of Korean productions to deliver universal themes through unique cultural lenses, potentially paving the way for more works from Korea to appear in the West End and Broadway in the coming years.
Korea Herald
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Kim Soo-ha returns to West End with 'Swag Age' -- in hanbok and in Korean
From second cover to award-winning lead, Kim brings her first Korean musical to London a decade after her debut Musical stage performer Kim Soo-ha recently achieved what many actors in the field dream of -- playing Mimi in 'Rent,' Eurydice in 'Hadestown,' Aida in 'Aida' and Eponine in 'Les Miserables,' and winning two best actress awards at the Korean Musical Awards for her role as Mimi in 2021 and Eurydice in 2024. She also won the best new female talent in 2021 for her role as Jin in "Swag Age" in 2020, which marked her Korean debut. This September, the 31-year-old will return to London's West End -- where she debuted a decade ago, before ever performing in Korea -- to lead a special concert performance of "Swag Age" at the Gillian Lynne Theatre. Her journey began in 2014, when she auditioned for the Japanese production of "Miss Saigon." Her audition recording caught the attention of a UK producer, eventually landing her the position of second cover for the lead role in London, as well as a place in the ensemble. It all happened quickly for Kim, then a college student. Just two weeks after getting the role, she was in London, not speaking fluent English. By day, she rehearsed with the ensemble while also preparing for the role, never knowing when she might be called to step in. About a month into the run, that moment came -- when both the lead actress and her understudy were unavailable. One performance turned into more than 30 appearances in the title role over the next 10 months, alongside her regular ensemble duties. 'I got the phone call at about 10 a.m. and I don't remember how I did that day. I was so nervous,' she told reporters during an interview earlier this month. 'At first, I couldn't speak English at all. There was an interpreter with me and a pronunciation coach to help with my diction, as well as a vocal coach. I made my debut in such an incredibly supportive environment that, honestly, I almost felt embarrassed to be paid for performing,' she recalled. Kim spent a total of four years abroad — three years in the UK, Germany and Switzerland, and several months in Japan. She said the four years overseas, including two years of touring, were transformative. Touring taught her how to adapt quickly. 'Even though we used the same microphones and sound director, every theater's conditions were different, especially in smaller towns. I learned to adjust fast, and unlike in Korea, I never knew until the day of the show whether I'd be performing or who my scene partner would be. That adaptability became one of my strengths.' Returning to Korea after four years abroad, she made her local debut with "Swag Age" in 2019. 'Swag Age" is an award-winning musical that began in 2017 as a student-created production at the Seoul Institute of the Arts, and, unusually for a school project, went on to multiple runs. Blending history, hip-hop and Korean traditional music, it will be staged as a concert-style performance on Sept. 8 at the Gillian Lynne Theatre in London's West End. For Kim, the upcoming performance is not only a personal homecoming, but also part of a broader milestone — another step in the growing presence of Korean original musicals on one of the world's most prestigious stages. 'It's amazing to be going back exactly 10 years later. And the production I'm going with this time is one where I wear a hanbok and speak in Korean. I'm really looking forward to showcasing that,' she said. The production will also feature "gat," the traditional Korean men's hat that has recently gained global recognition through Sony's animated film "KPop Demon Hunters." 'It's fascinating that foreigners know what a 'gat' is. We'll be able to present a uniquely Korean silhouette alongside rhythms and music that feel both exotic and familiar to them.' Kim believes that, just as Korean audiences connect with foreign productions like "Aida" or "Hadestown," overseas audiences will find their own points of connection with "Swag Age." 'We're telling a story of Joseon, but I'm sure there will be elements they can relate to as if it were their own story. That's the hope I'm taking with me.' gypark@
