Musical theatre: Korea’s success and Saudi Arabia’s promise

Visiting the vibrant K-Musical Market was an enlightening experience, revealing how Korea has successfully adopted and adapted the culture of Western musicals and made it their own.

At this five- day event, which hosted 23 international delegates, I had the privilege of speaking about the new and emerging performing arts and musical theatre scene in Saudi Arabia, highlighting “Phantom of the Opera” as being the first large-scale musical hosted in Riyadh in 2023.  Gaining valuable insight from Korea, which also hosted “Phantom” as their first musical in 2000, demonstrated how they paved the way for the development of musical theatre culture in the country. There is much for Saudi Arabia to learn from Korea’s example as a case study in integrating musicals into their culture and art form.

Adopting Western musicals: The Korean experience

Korea is renowned as one of the biggest musical theatre producers in the Asian market, particularly in localizing international intellectual properties.

Through the showcases and pitches I attended, I discovered that Korea not only excels at localizing Western musicals but also produces original musicals (especially small-scale musicals) that are ready for international tours, often being licensed to perform in Hong Kong, Japan and China. The abundance of family and children’s musicals, designed for 200-300 seat venues, was particularly mesmerizing.

Korea’s journey in adopting Western musicals began 24 years ago with “Phantom of the Opera.” From my discussions with industry insiders, I learned that it took two years to cast a Korean “Phantom.” This production was a turning point, marking the birth of a musical theatre audience in Korea.

This success was followed by the localization of more Western musicals into the market. Ten years later, local producers were able to create original Korean musicals once enough talent had been professionally trained to produce high-quality productions. Today, musicals are the highest-grossing performing arts genre in Korea, with K-pop stars frequently participating in the musical scene, further enhancing its popularity and appeal.

Saudi Arabia’s emerging musical theatre scene

Saudi Arabia’s musical theatre scene is still in its very early stages, although it shows great promise. The successful hosting of “Phantom of the Opera” in Riyadh in 2023 was a significant milestone. This event demonstrated a growing appetite for high-quality musical theatre in Saudi Arabia and highlighted the country’s potential to become a regional hub for performing arts. However, to achieve this, Saudi Arabia can learn valuable lessons from the experiences of countries like Korea.

First, there is a clear intention to host more large-scale Western musicals in Riyadh. By gauging audience interest in certain titles and ensuring venue suitability, there is general interest to create exposure and build a dedicated audience for musical theatre and the performing arts sector.

Second, investing in professional training for local talent is crucial. In 2022, the first three-week musical theatre actor training workshops were held in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam, receiving more than 500 applications. This strong response indicates a significant desire among locals in training for this genre. Such training initiatives need to continue and expand.

Third, there is potential to develop small original Saudi musicals, similar to Korea’s successful approach. Creating original musicals that fit into small venues could foster local talent and creativity. Platforms for Saudi musicals could include formats such as a 30-minute musical competition, providing opportunities for emerging artists to display their work. These competition formats for local plays have been the norm for local community theatre practitioners to present their work in local festival formats.

In conclusion, my visit to the K-Musical Market provided valuable insights into how Korea has successfully adopted and adapted Western musicals. By applying these lessons, Saudi Arabia has the potential to create a vibrant Saudi musical theatre culture that resonates with its own audiences while also appealing to international visitors.

The Saudi film industry has boomed in recent years with original Saudi stories, the same could apply to theatre. The exchange of ideas and experiences between countries is essential for the growth and development of the global arts community. Saudi Arabia’s journey in the performing arts is just beginning, and there is much to look forward to.

• Soha Khan, a Saudi creative sector advisor, specializes in performing arts, entertainment, and creative leadership. With diverse expertise in the UK and Saudi markets, she excels as a producer, artistic director, speaker and coach. Khan’s passion for theatre advocacy drives her to guide individuals, companies and cultural sectors, fostering the advancement of performing arts in Saudi Arabia.