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2022
莎翁乐园
Inside William (인사이드 윌리엄) is a Korean original musical that blends Shakespearean characters with a meta-theatrical storyline, following Hamlet, Romeo, and Juliet as they escape their manuscripts in search of their own endings. Since its 2021 premiere, the work has expanded internationally under multiple titles, including the English showcase version Breaking the Quill, leading to a full Chinese licensed production, two UK stagings, and a 2025 Japanese production.
English:
Inside William
Korean:
인사이드 윌리엄
Country: China | Language: Chinese
🔗 All images are linked to their original sources or articles. No copyright ownership is claimed.
ORIGIN
2021, writer Kim Hansol, composer Kim Cheeyoung, director Kim Dongyeon, produced by The Best Play (연극열전), premiered at Art One Theater 1, Seoul. Developed through the Korean Creative Theatre Grant program as an original musical reimagining Shakespeare’s works through contemporary humor and self-referential storytelling.
STORY
Shakespeare is struggling to write Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet at the same time when a sudden disruption mixes the manuscripts and sends the characters into an unknown space. Hamlet and Juliet attempt to reclaim their agency, Romeo searches for love that no longer follows the script, and Shakespeare tries to restore order before his masterpieces collapse. The musical uses famous lines, meta-fiction, and pop-theatrical staging to explore authorship, destiny, and the right to rewrite one’s narrative.
POSTER COLLECTION
Poster images are shown for documentation only. All rights belong to the original creators and producers.
KOREAN RUNS
2021 – Premiere, The Best Play (연극열전), Art One Theater 1
2023 – Revival, Art One Theater 1
GLOBAL STAGINGS & ADAPTATIONS
China – Shanghai (2022–2023)
Licensed adaptation – Mandarin-language full production titled 《莎翁乐园》
Ran December 24, 2022 – January 1, 2023, produced by Shanghai Culture Square. Featured a fully local Chinese cast while preserving the core Korean staging format, marketed as a family-friendly Shakespeare fantasy musical.
United Kingdom – London (2022)
Showcase – 30-minute English highlights at the K-Musical Roadshow
Performed for UK industry delegates with a four-actor cast (Shakespeare, Hamlet, Romeo, Juliet). Directed by Cressida Carré with newly written English lyrics, marking the musical’s first Western-market introduction.
United Kingdom – London (2024)
Showcase – retitled Breaking the Quill, The Other Palace Studio
Presented July 16, 2024, starring Richard Carson, Lauren Jones, Scott Hunter, and Peter Hannah. English book by Hansol Kim and Emily Rose Simons, music by Cheeyoung Kim. Positioned as a step toward a full West End redevelopment.
Japan – Tokyo (2025)
Licensed production – Japanese-language staging
Scheduled March 13–23, 2025 at Mitsukoshi Theater, starring Ryo Hirano and Teru Kagimoto. Marketed as a Korean-origin musical reimagining Shakespeare through comedy, meta-fiction, and pop-musical structure.
REFERENCES
Douban – Mandarin licensed production listing
https://www.douban.com/location/drama/36165368/
Musical Theatre Review – UK K-Musical Roadshow coverage
https://musicaltheatrereview.com/trio-of-korean-musicals-featured-in-first-k-musical-roadshow/
Inside William Japan – official promotional site
Breaking the Quill – official Instagram archive
https://www.instagram.com/breakingthequill/
Namu Wiki – Korean production background entry
https://namu.wiki/w/%EC%9D%B8%EC%82%AC%EC%9D%B4%EB%93%9C%20%EC%9C%8C%EB%A6%AC%EC%97%84
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