Gumi Culture and Arts Center Unveils 2025 Second-Half Performance Lineup

Plays, Ballet, Family Musicals, and National Theater Company Performances
Yuhki Kuramoto Year-End Concert Scheduled

The Gumi Culture and Arts Center in North Gyeongsang Province has unveiled its 2025 second-half planned performance program, officially launching a cultural and artistic venue for citizens to enjoy together.

The play Waiting for Godot, starring veteran actors Shin Goo and Park Geunhyung, will be performed on stage.

This season, running from July to December, will feature a variety of performances across genres, including family musicals, classic plays, contemporary ballet, masterpieces by the National Theater Company, and concerts by world-renowned musicians, all designed to enrich the cultural sensibility of the citizens.

The season will open with the family musical "Hachuping of Love."

Staged on July 26 and 27, this production is based on the highly popular children's animation "Hachuping." Through a fantastic stage production and music, it explores the values of love and friendship, drawing significant interest from family audiences.

On August 8 and 9, the play "Waiting for Godot," starring veteran actors Shin Goo and Park Geunhyung, will be performed. This is a representative work by Nobel Prize in Literature laureate Samuel Beckett, containing a philosophical message that offers insight into the essence of human existence.

With the profound acting and direction of actors who represent the Korean theater scene, the production is expected to deliver a deep resonance to the audience.

On September 6, a family musical based on Baek Heena's fairy tale "Moon Sherbet" will be staged. Following the stage adaptations of "Magic Candy" and "The Bathhouse Fairy," this production combines a narrative that stimulates children's rich imagination with beautiful music and fantastic stage aesthetics, aiming to foster empathy across generations.

Local original content will also welcome citizens in the form of a festival. On October 18, the 18th Gumi Eoullim Madanggeuk Grand Festival will be held, in conjunction with the "Gumi Food Festival," and will operate as a comprehensive cultural festival blending traditional local theater and culinary culture.

In November, performances that blur the boundaries between contemporary dance and classical ballet will follow. On November 21 and 22, the Seoul Ballet Theater will present "Decadance," a signature work by world-renowned choreographer Ohad Naharin. With its sensual and experimental stage language, this masterpiece opens a new horizon for ballet.

Notably, this performance marks the Seoul Ballet Theater's first regional tour, adding symbolic significance to the Gumi stage.

On December 5 and 6, the National Theater Company's representative repertoire "The Orphan of Zhao: Seeds of Vengeance" will be performed. This work is a modern reinterpretation of the classic narrative "The Orphan of Zhao" by Yuan dynasty writer Ji Junxiang, and, marking its 10th anniversary since its premiere, will offer an even more polished production.

Through the story of a child who survives a historical tragedy and vows revenge, the play delivers a message that prompts reflection on justice and humanity.

The grand finale of the year will be a year-end concert by pianist Yuhki Kuramoto. Scheduled for December 19, this stage is an encore of last year's sold-out, much-talked-about performance.

In particular, the concert will feature the renowned Korean classical ensemble "Ditto Orchestra," promising an even richer performance and delivering a warm musical gift to the citizens of Gumi.

A representative of the Gumi Culture and Arts Center stated, "This second-half program consists of a diverse range of genres that appeal to all generations and tastes," adding, "It will provide high-quality performing arts to local residents and serve as an opportunity to further elevate Gumi's status as a cultural city."

Meanwhile, detailed information and ticket reservations for the performances can be found on the Gumi Culture and Arts Center website, and inquiries can be directed to the performance planning team.