SEOUL - Music and arts lovers have a lot of choice when visiting a country like South Korea. But if your schedule is a tight one, you ought at least to witness ‘Nanta', a non-verbal performance integrating traditional Korean ‘Samulnori' rhythm with comedy and drama, compensating the visitor for the other Korean art forms he's unable to find time for. The performance that combines rhythms from Korean folk music with modern musical forms can be described as universal, as it depends on music and motion mingling with fun, drama and even acrobatics. It can also be described as introducing traditional arts with added value, making them enjoyable for people from different cultures. There are no language barriers and you won't get bored, although some people are soon turned off by the traditional music and dance of other cultures. The performance began in a unique fashion, riveting the audience and getting them to interact from the word go. It began in a traditional Korean kitchen, with the cooks busy preparing the lunch. The bad-tempered manager then barges in and orders them to prepare the food for a wedding by 6pm. The cooks, who have not been told in advance about this event, are caught completely off-guard. Not only that, the manager also brings his young nephew with him and tells the cooks teach him how to cook and prepare food. The cooks become almost hysterical, as they launch into action, while making music with all the kitchen utensils at their disposal. Their dancing and acrobatics will also astonish you. But what really adds to the fun is the participation of the audience, who are all invited to get involve. And even if stay glued to your seat, be prepared to have some flying food or presents from the performers land in your lap. At one point in the show, the audience perform on their own as the real performers disappear. It's really quite astonishing, especially if you're not prepared for it. ‘Nanta' first appeared in 1997 and then made its international debut in 1999, touring several world theatres including Broadway. We are still waiting for them to come and visit us in Cairo. This play can be described as a very good attempt to introduce heritage and tradition on new terms, reaching out to people in enjoyable way. Of course, if you do have enough time, there are also countless other impressive shows you ought to go and see while visiting Korea.
