Did you know that you can attend Korean theatre in Seoul that has English subtitles? I personally LOVE plays, musicals and cultural performances. So, naturally I had to check those out during my stay in Seoul. And since I was also staying close to the famous Daehangno, Seoul’s Broadway, I definitely couldn’t skip this. Here’s my review for you.
This post isn’t sponsored, but I was able to attend the show with a press ticket. Article might contain affiliate links (marked with an asterisk *). If you buy/book anything after clicking on them, this doesn’t cost you anything extra but gives me a little commission from qualifying purchases to help keep uploading free travel tips for you on to this blog.
Why visit Daehangno?
There are so many tiny, small and mid-size stages around the neighbourhoods Hyehwa-dong and Ihwa-dong, which is where Daehangno is located. (Plus, if you click on the links, you will see my guide on what else to see in the area.)
This means: there’s ALWAYS something on. Many plays are ongoing, without a definite end. Others only run for a few days or months. It’s definitely best to check schedules online or in the local information centre at Marronnier Park. Note that they do not sell tickets.
Don’t confuse it with Daehak-ro, which is just one road.
How to get there
There are many buses running to the area. Depending on what play you want to see, you can take a local bus.
Super easy is also the getting to the Hyehwa metro station on the blue line 4.
Exit 2 will take you to Marronnier Park, with the info centre.
Special Deals
Did you know that the last Wednesday of the month is Culture Day? That means culture programs can be 50 or 100% off! It’s worth checking for specials. Just do it in advance to not run the risk of everything being sold out.
Review “Beautiful Life”Play
One of the Korean plays in Seoul that offers English subtitles is “Beautiful Life”, hosted at JTN Art Hall. I was able to see it with a press pass, so I can tell you about the experience.
You can easily buy a ticket via the QR code on any of the leaflets. Or you can click my affiliate link here* to get to an easy ticketing website in your language.
If you reserved a ricket, you simply collect it on the ground floor at the reception and then head to the elevator to get to the stage corridor. You wait until someone validates your ticket. Head up the stairs, find your seat and take a photo of the stage. Because at the end of the play, it will look very much different.
One thing that I really appreciated about this play was the stage design. There are so many different moving parts to showcase rooms and outside venues throughout different times of the story. It was very cleverly done.
Just know that the transition parts, where the lights fade to black and things get rearranged without you seeing, come with very loudly played music. That took me out a bit of the experience.
The play itself is a rollercoaster ride of emotions. Especially if you are a woman.
To me, it seemed that the experience was widely different between genders. Men laughed at all the weaponized incompetence and casual cruelty of the male lead towards his wife. Whereas, this made my heart break double.
You see, the essence of the story is about a couple throughout their entire life together. From the sweet first meets, to losing touch, finding each other again through coincidence (or fate) and then raising a family (or him being the “provider” and her the housekeeper, parent, planner, etc).
Its storytelling is entirely out of order, which keeps things interesting and shows connections (both narratively and interpersonally) in minute and focused ways that might otherwise get overlooked.
As we overlook a lot in relationships. Things can turn stale, we take a partner for granted. The play really shines a light – literally as a metaphor for eyesight – on this.
The big twist of the woman being blind gets revealed backwards, as does the story overall.
By chopping up the narrative, it feels more immersive. You don’t know what happens next. Even if you start out at a point closer to the end. You know things – like the blindness – that no one could be aware of early into the relationship.
You basically, both (re)live the fresh and crucial landmarks of their union while also diving into the nostalgia of looking back. If you look closer, you will also see how toxic a fierce grip on classic role models and patriarchal beliefs can be at a micro level.
Remarkable as well were the two actor’s capabilities of brilliantly showcasing their characters’ various ages believably (and sometimes to comical effect). And that they played other side characters as well, such as restaurant owner and son.
There even was a small interactive segment, where someone of the audience was asked on stage for a “drink”, setting the scene into a different location and time. That was quite clever and funnily executed.
After the play was over, everyone had the possibility to take photos with the two actors on the play’s bench – which was an important prop. It was a very nice idea and good way to compliment the thespians.
On the subtitles: Most performances are solely in Korean. For English subtitles, you need to book a showing for that specifically. Not all performances come with subtitles.
Check for shows on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. It’s best to look at the recent Instagram updates for the monthly subtitle service schedule before making a booking.
Subtitles are shown on TV screens to the sides of the stage in Korean and English. It was easy to follow them and still get a look at the stage.
Overall, I really enjoyed my first Korean play and was entertained throughout. I especially didn’t expect to feel all the emotions, from rage (from toxic masculinity), to sadness to joy (over comic relief). You might want to wear waterproof mascara.
- Get tickets here
- General Seats: 50,000 WON
- Runtime: 90 minutes
- Venue : Dae Hak No, Art Madang, Theater 4
Shear Madness
A fabulous play in Korean (no subtitles this time) is Shear Madness, which is an iconic play originating from Boston and has been running for over 26 years! I had not heard about this comedic piece before, but apparently, it is among the most popular productions in the world.
In essence, it’s a murder mystery, a whodunit play that is different every time. Not just due to the actors’ ingenious improvisations but also partly thanks to audience participation.
What stays the same is the core plot: Two hairdressers wreak havoc on their customers in their salon (which happens to include two police officers and a flashy rich lady who desperately needs to catch a flight) while their upstairs neighbour is killed mysteriously.
The culprit changes with each showing, so you can always look for new clues and enjoy the play in fresh ways, even if you’ve already seen it.
And even though I don’t speak Korean and had a friend help me with what was going on, the physical comedy and over-the-top delivery really were entertaining enough by themselves. Everyone seemed suspicious, everyone had their unique quirks. It was absolutely joyous to behold.
At the end, there is a short break in which the audience can approach the police officer and give clues, ask questions and help with the detective work. He will also further question the audience on certain events his character was not present for. This way, the audience can really influence who gets caught.
I thoroughly enjoyed this show and had a great time. Highly recommended!
- Get tickets here
- All Seats: 60,000 WON
- Runtime: 110 minutes
- Venue : KONTENTZ BOX
