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2017
Natasha, the White Donkey, and Me
Me, Natasha and a White Donkey (나와 나타샤와 흰 당나귀) is a Korean original musical inspired by Baek Seok’s poem of the same title, reimagining the poet and his lover Jaya through a lyrical, memory-driven narrative. It became one of the few Korean poetic-literary musicals to be fully licensed and staged in Japan.
English:
Me, Natasha and a White Donkey
Korean:
나와 나타샤와 흰 당나귀
Country: Hong Kong | Language: Korean
🔗 All images are linked to their original sources or articles. No copyright ownership is claimed.
ORIGIN
The musical premiered in 2016 through the ULSAN Cultural Foundation development program and was later produced and distributed by Insight Entertainment. Written by Park Hae-rim with music by Chae Han-wool, the work adapts the imagery and language of Baek Seok’s 1941 poem into a fictionalized love story. The show received critical attention for transforming Korean modernist poetry into musical theatre form and won multiple domestic awards for its book and lyrics.
STORY
The musical follows elderly Jaya, who recalls her youth and the poet Baek Seok, whom she loved but could never forget. The narrative unfolds as a conversation between Jaya and the imagined figure of Baek Seok, blurring memory and fantasy. The work does not depict historical fact but instead frames Baek Seok as a projection of Jaya’s longing, with songs built from fragments of the poet’s verse. The tone is poetic, restrained, and elegiac, with piano-based music underscoring a quiet meditation on love, time, and regret.
POSTER COLLECTION
Poster images are shown for documentation only. All rights belong to the original creators and producers.
KOREAN RUNS
2016 – Premiere, Dream Art Center 2F (Insight Entertainment)
2017 – Revival, Uniplex 2F
2020–2021 – Third run, Chungmu Art Center Black Box
Awards include the 2017 Yegreen Musical Award for Best Book and the 2019 Chabeomseok Playwriting Prize (musical category).
GLOBAL STAGINGS & ADAPTATIONS
Hong Kong – Y Theatre, Youth Square (2017)
K-Musical Roadshow (Showcase Performance)
Natasha, the White Donkey, and Me (local title) was presented as part of the 2017 K-Musical Roadshow, held on November 28–29, 2017 at Y Theatre, Youth Square in Hong Kong. Organized by the Korea Arts Management Service with support from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korean Cultural Office in Hong Kong, the roadshow showcased six Korean musicals to international presenters and industry professionals. The appearance functioned as a non-commercial showcase, introducing the work to overseas markets rather than as a licensed local production.
Japan – Tokyo (2021)
Licensed Japanese-language production – G-ATLAS
The Japanese-language adaptation was staged at Asakusa Nine Theater from February 3–28, 2021, written and directed by Koichi Ogita. The cast featured Mitsuaki Higashiyama as Baek Seok, with AKANE LIV and Hitomi Tsukikage alternating as Jaya. The production emphasized the poetic tone of the original and introduced Baek Seok to Japanese audiences as a literary figure comparable to Ishikawa Takuboku. It was marketed as a “Korean tragic love musical,” with printed programs and DVDs released for sale.
REFERENCES
NamuWiki – Musical overview (Korean)
K-Musical Roadshow in 2017 in Hong Kong
http://withinnews.co.kr/news/view.html?category=126&no=13757§ion=9
Enbu – Visuals released for Japanese production (Japanese article)
Official Japanese production site (archived)
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