Choreographer Jung Young-doo Is Nominated for Laurence Olivier Award

Choreographer Jung Young-doo, an alumnus of the School of Dance, was nominated for the Laurence Olivier Award, Britain’s highest honor in theatre, for his creative changguek, “Lear.”

According to announcements by the Korean Cultural Center in the UK and the Olivier Awards, Jung was nominated for the “Outstanding Achievement in Opera” category for his “Lear,” which was staged at the opening of the K-Music Festival in October 2024 at Barbican Center in the UK.

Named after the great British actor Laurence Olivier, the Laurence Olivier Awards are the highest honor in performing arts in Britain, often compared to the Tony Awards from the US. This year, in the “Outstanding Achievement in Opera” category, Russian mezzo-soprano Aigul Akhmetshina, who performed in Carmen at the Royal Opera House, and British tenor Allan Clayton, who performed in Festen at the Royal Opera House, have also been nominated.

The Laurence Olivier Awards which represents the West End, the heart of Britain’s theatre and musical scene, have been presented by the Society of London Theatre (SOLT) since 1976. They are often compared to Tony Awards from the US or Molière Awards from France. Actress Yoon Seok-hwa was awarded Best New Musical for her co-produced piece, “Top Hat,” in 2013.

Changguek “Lear” was directed and choreographed by Jung Young-doo, with the script written by Prof. Bae Samsik (School of Drama), lyrics written by pansori composer Han Seung-seok, music composed by Jung Jae-il, and starring actor Kim Jun-soo, well-known as an idol of the gugak scene. Through old King Lear and his three daughters, the production successfully portrays the human’s deep inner mind – desire, jealousy, betrayal, agony, and madness – just as in Shakespeare’s original work. At the same time, it adds the unique flavor of genuine changgeuk.

The award ceremony is planned for April 6 at the Royal Albert Hall, London.