The Moment the River Calls Time: "Godomooha" Takes the Stage

A Musical Play Crossing the Stage with Reflections on Existence

The musical play "Godomooha," which reinterprets a classic folktale with a modern sensibility, will meet audiences at Seongsu Art Hall on December 20-21.

This production, which has garnered attention as a selection of the 2025 Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture Creative Support Program, is a collaboration between composer Shin Nara, playwright Kim Seongbae, and director Shin Dongil, offering a new texture for contemporary musical theater. The Moltonew Voice Ensemble will perform, adding depth and richness to the narrative.

Godomooha Poster

"Godomooha" is based on a symbolic structure of "stories of those who cross the river." Rather than directly depicting death or separation, it poses a fundamental question about how humans perceive the passage of time in their own lives.

The stage begins with Baeksu Gwangbu, who, feeling he has lost everything after retirement, stands by the riverbank. Confronted with the essence of time and the meaning of his place in life, he faces a turning point. As Gwak Rijago and his wife Geumjo struggle to hold onto him, the tragedy unfolds.

Geumjo desperately pleads, "My love, do not cross that water," trying to stop her husband, but ultimately fails to bring him back. Later, the scene where manager Go calmly tells his wife Yeogong about the end of his day delicately reflects how the traces and meanings of the vanished couple shake the very core of human existence.

While grounded in the tragic elements of folklore, the work expands by leaving the audience with the question, "At which riverbank am I standing now?" prompting them to reflect on their present moment.

The creative team's backgrounds further reinforce the quality of the production. Composer Shin Nara has developed a unique musical language across chamber music, orchestral works, and musical theater, presenting her work at the Tongyeong International Music Festival and in performances in Munich and Stuttgart, among others, both in Korea and abroad.

Playwright Kim Seongbae has established himself as a major figure in contemporary drama, following his win in the playwriting category of the Hankook Ilbo New Year Literary Contest, with acclaimed works such as "Falling Flowers, Flowing Water" and "Probability."

Director Shin Dongil has been recognized for works with profound social consciousness, such as "Metamorphosis" and "An Eye for an Eye, a Tooth for a Tooth," receiving the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Award as well as the Grand Prize and Best Director Award at the Geochang International Theatre Festival.

Rather than projecting a loud voice toward the audience, the performance aims to create a "quiet ripple" that resonates within each individual. The emotional depth of ancient folklore, the existential questions of modern people, and the layers of time created by music all come together, promising one of the most contemplative and profound performances of the year-end season.

Kwon Nahyun actor.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.