The Gwangju Performance Project Cabaret

Written by Dave St. John

The Gwangju Performance Project (GPP) is in its eighth year of making community theater accessible to foreigners and Koreans. The GPP prides itself on its diversity and on being inclusive: Since its inception, most of its productions have included veteran and first time actors from all over the globe.

Currently, the GPP is in rehearsals for its fifth Cabaret Night. This year’s theme is Ballroom Blitz. The show will contain songs ranging from musical theater to rock’n’roll from the glam rock and hair band eras of the 1970s and 80s.

Cabaret will be performed for one night only on April 20 at Partytown 57 in downtown Gwangju (31-4 Chungjang-ro 1(il)-ga, Dong-gu, Gwangju). Tickets are priced at 25,000 won and will go on sale on April 1. The GPP is also offering VIP tables for Cabaret this year, and they will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Proceeds from the VIP tables will benefit the Ndwara Library in Africa and also help fund future GPP productions.

Later this year, The GPP will also begin work on its next project: William Shakespeare’s play The Winter’s Tale. This performance will be the latest installment in the “Shakespeare Every Other Year” schedule. It’s following the well-received A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Taming of the Shrew in 2015 and 2017, respectively.

Photographs by Tobias Hills

The Author
Dave St. John has been involved in theater since 2014 when he appeared in the GPP production of Proof. Since then, he has taken on many behind the scenes roles for the organization: sound engineer, assistant director, and director. He’s been a Gwangju resident since 2014 and has lived in South Korea since 2006.