PRODUCED BY Han Jung-Seok/Lee Sun-Young

BOOK & LYRICS Han, Jung-Seok
COMPOSER & ARRANGEMENT Lee, Sun-Young
DIRECTOR Oh, Kyung-Taek
MUSIC DIRECTOR Yang, Joo-In
CHOREOGRAPHER Hong, Yoo-Sun
SCENIC DESIGNER Kim, Jung-Ran
LIGHTING DESIGNER Lee, Hyun-Kyu
SOUND DESIGNER Kwon, Ji-Hwi
COSTUME DESIGNER Do-Yeon

The setting of the musical ‘Redbook’ is the UK, a country of gentlemen. To be more specific, the story unfolds in the Victorian era which was the most conservative of all historical periods in the country. The musical depicts how a female author grows as she raises her voice against the world’s cricitism and prejudice. Han Jung-Seok (writer) and Lee Sun-Young (composer), who drew attention with the musical ‘The Goddess Is Watching over You’, made another attempt with this one. Constantly linking its themes and characters, its story and music in a seamless and consistent way, ‘Redbook’ makes the best use of the strengths of the writer and composer. Since it was selected for Uran Cultural Foundation’s performing arts development program, the musical has made itself visible with its original content and attractive characters. After a tryout, the musical was finally presented for the general public, thus being acclaimed by the audience and critics ceaselessly.

In 1894 in the UK, Anna tells her fiance about her first love. Her fiance then refuses to marry her and Anna moves to the city. Whenever she experiences tribulations and loneliness, she encourages herself by reminiscing about her first love. One day, she meets a young man called Brown who epitomizes a British gentleman of that era. Thanks to his support, Anna joins women’s lierature society called “The Lorelei” and starts writing a novel based on her memories. However, ‘Redbook’, a magzine that published her novel, comes under attack because in that era in the UK, women were not allowed to even mention parts of their body. Under these circumstances, Anna also finds herself in danger. Nevertheless, it serves as an occasion for her to talk to Brown truthfully and she falls in love with him. Armed with Brown’s support and her conviction, Anna grows into an author who raises her voice more confidently.

Telling such a love story of a free woman and conservative man, ‘Redbook’ depicts how the two characters, who were unable to be mutually understanding, finally accept each other. In this way, the musical highlights its two keywords: understanding and respect. As for its genre, it is close to a romantic comedy but it deals with a variety of serious themes, thanks to its historical and other settings and its strong charcters. In paricular, many of the female audience members cheered for its character Anna, who is true to her desires and challenges society’s discrimination and prejudice. They have never seen such a character in a musical.

REVIEW

‘Redbook’ is a sensational musical that asks us about the true meaning of human desires and the arts. Although it is framed in a romantic comedy, its theme highlighting the importance of understanding and respect for others is never light.
- Jo Yun-ju, reporter of Financial News

A new female character is born. Provocative and independent, she has never been seen on stage.
- Ko Jae-yeon, reporter of the Korea Economic Daily

Considering the discrimination and violence against women that are still rampant in Korean society, you cannot just sit back and watch the musical comfortably. Still today, Korea may have another Anna somewhere and she may be on trial. Nevertheless, what makes the musical unique is the fact that its atmosphere is cheerful rather than serious.
- In Ji-hyeon, reporter of the Munhwa Il-bo

About the Creators

Han Jung-Seok (writer) and Lee Sun-Young (composer) have worked together to create musicals. They have made themselves notable with their unique themes, original ideas and performances combining drama and music harmoniously. They became widely known with their first musical ‘The Goddess Is Watching over Us’. Their second one ‘Redbook’ was also loved by many. Lee and Han work in a way a little different from that of other partners creating musicals. In the case of other musical creators, the writer first writes a script and the composer makes music. After that, they adjust the script together. As for Lee and Han, they share their ideas about a musical’s themes and characters from the phase of conception. Based on these ideas, they make each of the lines, scenes and numbers as they keep communicating with each other.

Lee and Han aren’t commissioned by theaters or agencies to make performances. They first find stories they want to tell on their own, complete their work during a sufficient period of time and look for agencies or theaters themselves. Although it is not easy to find production companies. they are planning to keep working in this way because it allows them to tell stories they want, freeing themselves from any interference or restriction.

* The copyright of the first production company of ‘Redbook’ expired in August 2019 so information on the company is replaced with that on the creators.