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2018
兰波
Rimbaud (랭보) is a Korean original musical about the turbulent lives of poets Arthur Rimbaud and Paul Verlaine, notable as the first Korean work to be co-produced with China and Japan from its development stage. Just 43 days after its Seoul premiere, the musical opened in Shanghai in 2018, marking one of the fastest confirmed overseas transfers for a Korean small-theatre musical.
English:
Rimbaud
Korean:
랭보
Country: China | Language: Chinese
🔗 All images are linked to their original sources or articles. No copyright ownership is claimed.
ORIGIN
Premiered in 2018, the musical was co-produced by LIVE Corp. and Double K Film & Theatre, developed over three years after being selected for the Korea Arts Council’s Creative Support Program. Written by Yun Hee-kyung with music by Min Chan-hong, the show adapts more than 25 poems by Rimbaud and Verlaine directly into its lyrics, constructing a poetic narrative rather than a conventional biography. Conceived from the beginning as a tri-national collaboration between Korea, China, and Japan, the musical was designed for overseas licensing and cultural exchange from its inception.
STORY
The musical frames its narrative through Delahaye, a childhood friend of Rimbaud, who travels with Verlaine to search for Rimbaud’s “last poem” rumored to be left in Africa. Through shifting timelines, the work follows Rimbaud’s arrival in Paris at age 17, his creative collision with Verlaine, their artistic obsession, exile, and eventual rupture. Rather than retelling events as historical fact, the musical stages their poetry—freedom, destruction, longing, revolt—as dramatic text and song, portraying the inner cost of genius and the gap between artistic immortality and human failure.
POSTER COLLECTION
Poster images are shown for documentation only. All rights belong to the original creators and producers.
KOREAN RUNS
2018 – premiere, Daehangno TOM 1 Theater (LIVE / Double K)
Established an early cult following for its poetic book and all-male cast, recording full-house performances and surpassing 30,000 cumulative audience members across repeat runs. Continued revivals have kept the title active in the small-theatre market, supported by repeat casting and sustained fanbase engagement.
GLOBAL STAGINGS & ADAPTATIONS
China – Shanghai (2018)
Co-production premiere – Shanghai Grand Theatre (Buick Chinese Theatre)
Opened Dec 5, 2018, just 43 days after the Seoul premiere, as part of a three-country co-production model. Fully adapted into Mandarin while retaining the original staging concept, and promoted as a milestone in Korea–China–Japan musical co-development. Press emphasized its literary source material, modern musical style, and potential impact on China’s small-theatre musical market.
China – Beijing (2019)
Licensed Mandarin-language re-run – Longfu Theatre
Continued the Mandarin staging with an all-male cast, marketed as a refined second edition following the Shanghai premiere. Media coverage highlighted its themes of artistic rebellion and visual minimalism, attracting younger audiences and expanding awareness beyond Shanghai.
REFERENCES
LIVE Corp – official Rimbaud project page
http://www.livecorp.co.kr/m31_view.php?idx=53&cate=4
China Economic Net – Shanghai premiere report
http://m.ce.cn/bwzg/201812/05/t20181205_30957725.shtml
Sohu – Beijing 2019 licensed production
https://www.sohu.com/a/337089793_296992
Douban – audience listing and version history
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