The award-winning Korean musical Swag Age in Concert is set to make its electrifying UK debut at the Gillian Lynne Theatre on Monday 8th September 2025 at 7:30pm.
This one-night-only concert staging marks the international premiere of a show that has captivated audiences across Korea with its bold fusion of history, hip-hop, and rebellion.
Set in an imagined Joseon Dynasty, Swag Age in Concert explores a world where the traditional Korean poetry form, Sijo, has been banned. A masked rebel group, the Golbin Gang, rises up to challenge the regime through rhythm and rhyme.
The musical’s explosive energy is matched by its powerful message of freedom and resistance. With chants of “Oh-Eh-Oh! Oh-Eh-Oh!” echoing through the theatre, the production becomes a rallying cry for change.
Composer Lee Jeong Yeon says, “The musical Swag Age unravels the cries and emotions of the people through the times with modern music and dance. The sentiment of joy and excitement unique to Korea, so called ‘heung’, flowing in the work goes beyond simple pleasure and is alive and breathing even at this moment with the energy of resistance and solidarity. Through this piece, I hope all of us who live today will receive the message of courage and hope that we still need. Furthermore, I hope this stage will be a place of empathy and communication, not only between the past and present but also the East and the West.”
Playwright Park Chan Min adds, “Swag Age is a work that pictures and deals with the consequences of an imaginary Joseon, where the Korean traditional poetry, Sijo is forcibly taken away from the people’s life with the distinct Korean language and rhythm. It is truly meaningful to have this piece held in London at this amazing venue through ‘Swag Age in Concert’! I hope this stage can be an opportunity to share the values of freedom and identity with the world.”
The production features a dynamic blend of traditional Korean instruments and booming hip-hop beats, with choreography that spans Korean folk dance to breakdance. It’s a living rebellion told through sound and movement.
Directed by Lee Kyung-soo, with choreography by Kim Eun Chong, the cast includes Dan Yang Hee Jun, Jin Kim Soo Ha, Hongguk Lim Hyun Soo, Shibju Lee Kyung Soo, Horosui Hwang Sung Jae, Gisun Jung Sun Gi, Soonsu Jung A Young, King Choi Il Woo, Jono Oh Seung Hyun, Gedong Kim Jae Hyung, Sodong Ryoo Haryun, Hengyi An Yebin, Bogi Lee Seo Young, and Maldong Byun Jae Jun.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
