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2024
ウィリアムとウィリアムのウィリアムたち
William & Wiliam’s Wil(l)iam (윌리엄과 윌리엄의 윌리엄들) is a Korean original musical based on the real 18th-century Shakespeare forgery scandal involving William Henry Ireland. The work gained attention for its small-cast courtroom structure, word-driven humor, and metatheatrical debate on authorship, and has since been exported to Japan through a licensed commercial run.
English:
William & Wiliam’s Wil(l)iam
Korean:
윌리엄과 윌리엄의 윌리엄들
Country: Japan | Language: Japanese
🔗 All images are linked to their original sources or articles. No copyright ownership is claimed.
ORIGIN
Premiered in 2023 at Art One Theater 2 in Seoul. Produced by The Best Play (연극열전), the musical was developed through the 2022 ARKO “New Musical” program and written as a compact four-actor piece blending historical fact and fictionalized imagination. The work centers on questions of authorship, recognition, and forgery within the theatrical mythology surrounding Shakespeare.
STORY
The musical follows real historical figures William Samuel Ireland and his son William Henry Ireland, who were accused of forging “lost” Shakespeare manuscripts in the late 1700s. Switching between courtroom scenes and flashbacks, the show depicts Henry’s desperate need for artistic validation, Samuel’s hunger for fame, and the appearance of a mysterious gentleman known as H who fuels the deception. The tone balances satire and tragedy, asking whether artistic value lies in truth or in belief.
POSTER COLLECTION
Poster images are shown for documentation only. All rights belong to the original creators and producers.
KOREAN RUNS
2023 – Premiere, The Best Play, Art One Theater 2
2025 – Revival, The Best Play, NOL Seokyung Square Scone 2
GLOBAL STAGINGS & ADAPTATIONS
Japan – Multiple Cities (2024)
Licensed Japanese-language production by Amuse Inc.
Staged February–March 2024 at Parthenon Tama Large Hall, Hyogo Performing Arts Center Hankyu Hall, and Sunshine Theater in Tokyo. Marketed as “a newly arrived Korean hit from Daehangno,” the production retained the courtroom format while localizing names and dialogue. Reviews highlighted its fast-paced verbal humor and the rare subject matter of literary forgery, drawing attention within Japan’s commercial musical market.
REFERENCES
The Musical – Korea news article (2025 revival announcement)
https://www.themusical.co.kr/News/Detail?num=14457
PIA Stage – Japanese production page
https://lp.p.pia.jp/event/stage/315221/index.html
NamuWiki entry
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