Tuesday 30 May 2017

Korean Drum Dramaturgy: Tago @Edfringe 2017

Gruejarm Production - supported by Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism of Korea 
present: 
TAGO – KOREAN DRUM II 
Korea’s breathtaking show of percussion and martial arts choreography


Assembly Rooms (Venue 20) 
3.15pm – 4.15pm
August 3rd-27th
(not August 21st)




TAGO means ‘lighting up the world by beating drums’ and this young ensemble achieves it with a spectacular mixture of Korean traditional instruments - from gigantic drums to small percussion instruments – spiced up with extravagant martial arts movement.

TAGO’s performances are a masterful display of thrilling percussion and precisely choreographed movement that has wide audience appeal.



1. What was the inspiration for this performance?

TAGO means ‘lighting up the world by beating drums’.

Korean traditional music called ‘Gugak’ has been with us for more than 1,000 years with its identity. It has experienced many changes from the Korean ancient times up to date to shape the Korean music. The music we play now is, I can say, the survivors from what has been handed down from our ancestors during our five thousand year history.

2. Is performance still a good space for the public discussion of ideas? 

Nowadays, not many young generations like to listen to the traditional music but love the K-pop singer/group. 

Still numerous artists try to keep and develop the traditional music and attract young generation not to forget our root.

After all, what we pursue for our music is to harmonize our traditional music with modernized touch.

3. How did you become interested in making performance?

It was very natural. 

I started be on stage when I was 11 and even though it was for quite different genre (Dance, Musical, Play etc.) I was in, I was interested in Stage lighting, music, creators I work with, audience reaction and all the inspiration the theatre could give. 

4. Is there any particular approach to the making of the show?

We’d like to perform live and interactive with the audience. 

It’s not for just showing. It’s for sharing.

5. Does the show fit with your usual productions?

Yes. 

6. What do you hope that the audience will experience?

We’ve been to Edinburgh last year and experience the audience reaction. 

We had a standing ovation from the first show to the end.

We expect the same or even bigger’ wow’ for this year.

7. What strategies did you consider towards shaping this audience experience?

We promote hard. We meet audience on the street and they come to see us to the theatre. We interact a lot.



TAGO return to The Fringe 2017 with a new show which follows their enormously popular and successful Fringe debut last year.
Says TAGO master drummer Kim Si-Won: “Korean traditional music, called "Gugak", has been with us for more than 1000 years and has experienced many changes, from the Korean ancient times up to the present day. The music we play now is the survivor from what has been handed down from our ancestors during our 5000-year history. 

TAGO – Korean Drum II is part of a showcase of Korean shows at the 70
th
Edinburgh Festival Fringe, brought to the Fringe by Gruejarm Production - supported by Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism of Korea - consisting of... MEDEA on media, Behind the Mirror, TAGO: Korean DrumII, Mind-goblin and SNAP.

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