Korean Culture Festival returns to UAE

CAIRO – 26 October 2017: The Korea Festival 2017 has commenced in the UAE, starting from October 25 until November 24.

Hosted by the UAE’s Embassy of the Republic of Korea and the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development of the UAE, the festival will feature a wide variety of events and performances ranging from Korean music, theatre, art dancing, food and much more. The festival’s theme this year is “K-Culture in Motion,” with a focus on plays for children and family audiences.

Several performances are the heart of this year’s edition, and the festival began on Wednesday with the “Darkness Poomba” performance at the Abu Dhabi National Theatre. Directed by Kim Jae-Duk, the performance is a reinterpretation of a traditional Korean art known as Poomba. Performed by the Modern Table Company, “Darkness Poomba” aims to blur the difference between audience and performer.

The next performance, on November 6 is the family musical “Treasure Hunter.” Aimed at introducing children to the diversity of cultures that exist within both Asia and the Middle East, the play uses fun animal characters to charm the young crowds, and also serves to introduce them for the upcoming 2018 Pyeongchang Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

“Nanta,” the first Asian musical to debut on Broadway, will be the third performance, and is a high-strung non-verbal comedy related around the zany antics of a bunch of cooks and their kitchen drama. Next is “Lights in Harmony,” which is a representation of the unity and harmony between Korea and the UAE, and uses lights and dance to create a stunning visual display.

A folklore children’s musical, “Tale of Rabbit,” will be performed at the Abu Dhabi theatre twice on November 23 and November 24, the final day of the festival.