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Ari: The Spirit of Korea
아리아라리
Official English Title
Other Titles: Ari Arari
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SOURCE
folklore
SETTING
Korea
BOOK
original
Jeongseon Arirang on stage
Korean Premiere
2018
Korean Premiere Theatre
Arirang Hall at the Jeongseon Arirang Center, Jeongseon
Further Korean run reference:
https://korean.visitkorea.or.kr/kperformance/performance/c38a71c1-e897-48bd-b742-1d1922b1beab
The Musical search cue — “아리아라리”
Summary
A music-and-dance production rooted in Jeongseon Arirang, bringing regional stories, humor, and Korean traditional performance to international stages.
Origin & Development
Ari: The Spirit of Korea grew from Jeongseon Arirang and regional cultural performance, combining folk music, dance, humor, and local stories in a touring form designed to introduce the cultural identity of Jeongseon internationally. The show premiered in 2018 as part of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics cultural program, and an expanded stage version was presented in Korea in 2019.
Built around the themes of Arirang (separation, longing, resilience), the performance dramatizes the life of Gi-mok, a master woodworker, and his daughter Ari, weaving together myth, family saga, and folk heritage. Performers embody characters from folk narratives, including Gi-mok, Ari, and the courtesan Aewol, while also serving as narrators; actors move through the aisles and drape ribbons over audience members, extending the performance beyond the stage.
It was invited to the Adelaide Festival in 2023 and presented at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2024 as part of the Korea Season, performed with English subtitles. Reviewers noted its mix of humor, including improvised English lines, with folk traditions; The AU Review gave it five stars.
Partial Synopsis
People in Jeongseon face love, separation, hardship, and hope as their lives intersect around the songs and stories of Arirang. Their individual struggles become part of a shared regional memory.
Ari Arari
2023
2023-03-10
to
2023-03-18
Country:
Australia
City:
Adelaide
Production Type:
Full Production
Language:
Korean
Venue:
The Arts Theatre
Presented as part of the Korean Season at the Adelaide Fringe.
Ari: The Spirit of Korea
2024
2024-08-01
to
2024-08-25
Country:
United Kingdom
City:
Edinburgh
Production Type:
Full Production
Language:
Korean
Venue:
Assembly Hall, Main Hall
Presented as part of the Korean Season at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
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