Changgeuk Concert of NCCK: Mr. Rabbit’s Journey to the Underwater Palace

Changgeuk Concert: Mr. Rabbit’s Journey to the Underwater Palace

Mr. Rabbit’s Journey to the Underwater Palace, based on Sugung-ga, one of the five pansori repertoires, condenses the original four-hour pansori work into an 80-minute production, maximizing the imaginative power of pansori through various musical compositions and a well-crafted storyline. The witty portrayal of the rabbit and terrapin’s difficult journey evokes sympathy from the audience. Audiences can also delight in dynamic vocal performances including solos, choir pieces, and call-and-response segments, complemented by choreography that aligns seamlessly with the storyline.

The show is written and directed by Yu Eun-sun, the art director and president of the NCCK(National Changgeuk Company of Korea). Renowned pansori singers Kim Jun-su, Yu Taepyungyang, and Lee Kwang-bok take on the main roles, delivering a flawless ensemble performance with superb acting and singing. The passionate performances of the NCCK actors, along with the exhilarating music played by the NCCK instrumentalists, enhance the overall enjoyment of this extraordinary theatrical experience. Mr. Rabbit’s Journey to the Underwater Palace showcases the unique artistry and humor inherent to pansori.

Cast

Rabbit: Kim Jun-su
Terrapin: Yu Taepyungyang
Shaman/Dragon King: Lee Kwang-bok
Ensemble: Min Eun-kyung, Yi So-yeon, Cho Yu-ah, Wang Yun-jeong
Musicians: Choi Young-hoon, Lee Won-wang, Hwang So-ra, Jun Kye-youl

National Changgeuk Company of Korea

The National Changgeuk Company of Korea was established in 1962 as a division of the National Theater of Korea, and it has been showcasing traditional Korean opera, changgeuk, for the past six decades. The Company has been transforming the five surviving pansori stories (Shimcheong-ga, Chunhyang-ga, Heungbo-ga, Sugung-ga and Jeokbyeok-ga) into changgeuk, while faithfully preserving the traditional Korean musical storytelling style.

CHANGGEUK is a traditional Korean opera that developed from pansori. Unlike pansori, where a single singer-storyteller performs the entire song accompanied by a drummer, changgeuk features an ensemble of pansori singers portraying different characters and participating in both spoken and sung dialogue.

Host or Publisher Korean Cultural Center Brussels