1. Overview

You & It is a Korean original musical written and composed by Lee Eung-gyu, produced by EG Musical Company, and directed by Carter Dixon McGill Productions for its overseas presentations. It explores the intersection of love, loss, and artificial intelligence in a near-future Daegu, blending lyrical human emotion with philosophical inquiry.

After the sudden death of his wife Mina, craftsman Gyujin isolates himself in grief—until he meets an AI robot that looks and speaks exactly like her. As he rediscovers happiness through this recreated presence, Gyujin begins to notice subtle differences: the robot’s confidence, rationality, and detachment grow, forcing him to confront what truly defines humanity and love.

2. Development and Background

Premiering in 2018 on a small rooftop stage in Daegu, You & It captured attention for its intimate storytelling and innovative use of technology as metaphor. The show went on to win the Creative Musical Award at the 2019 Daegu International Musical Festival (DIMF).

International development began in 2023, when the show was presented in London as You&AI at the Wonderville Theatre, produced in collaboration with UK-based Carter Dixon McGill Productions. The following year, it returned to London for a workshop performance and expanded engagement.

In 2024, You & It joined the Assembly Korean Season at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, marking the first Korean musical to be localized into English and performed entirely in English by Korean actors. The Edinburgh production featured Rumi Sutton (Your Lie in April) as Mina and Christopher Chung (Here Lies Love) as Gyujin, with musical direction by Lee Eung-gyu and keyboard accompaniment by Daeun Min.

3. Reception and Accolades

At the 2024 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, You & It was widely acclaimed for its emotional depth and minimalist staging. Scottish Field called it “tenderly acted and sweetly sung, full of longing, heartache, and grief.” The Scotsman highlighted its “philosophical meditation on what makes us human.”

The production earned a 5-star rating from Scottish Field and was selected as one of Mervyn Stutter’s Pick of the Fringe 2024, a long-running showcase recognizing the festival’s most outstanding performances.

4. Themes and Significance

The musical examines modern loneliness and the erosion of emotional intimacy in what it calls a “nano-society.” Through the evolving relationship between Gyujin and AI-Mina, it questions whether love can survive when memory and identity are artificially reconstructed.

Performed with only two actors, the show’s simplicity underscores its emotional focus—its music blending piano, minimal electronics, and lyrical Korean vocal lines to create a poignant modern requiem for love.