To Be Liberated

Housed in a mere half an hour, Soo Chyun has structured an elegant and emotionally moving show. The brevity adds to the beauty of this exquisite experience that should not be missed.... full review

"To be liberated" is a quiet powerhouse of a show. The embodiment of "han" for the audience to experience firsthand, was so deeply moving and human, I'm in awe of how big of an impact the show had in just 30 minutes. Instead of telling us about han, we were taken through the actual experience. And han is a complex emotion and concept to explain -- it has to be felt. "To be liberated" 100% delivered on giving the audience that experience. Everything about "To be liberated" is so intentional, from the staging, to the moments of stillness, the live music, and of course, it starts with the writing. Soo Chyun's writing demonstrates an intricate understanding of our self-judgements, loathing, shame, anger, sadness, and hopes, so beautifully pe... full review

Extraordinarily thoughtful and profound story about an often-neglected aspect of history. Exceptional script - poignant and brief - as well as musical accompaniment from some very talented musicians on Korean instruments. It was particularly meaningful to me that the performance was done in Korean - I'm second-generation Korean-American, so I'm not fluent and had to lean on the subtitles, but the delivery carried so much more weight in the embrace of Korean language. Absolutely worth your 30 minutes.... full review

Remarkable in every way, To Be Liberated is a must-see show this Fringe. Karla Suyeon Kim and Aubrey Kim are a dynamite duo in this harrowing, dramatic piece. From lights up, the audience is transported and dives right into the heart of each moment. I left the show wanting more. Fantastic work!... full review

Stellar writing drives this touching and tragic story of guilt and wavering faith. The twists of the story are hauntingly effective thanks to some really stunning lighting and tech. Additionally, the 30 minute length allows the production to be hyper focused on its main message, which uses history to initiate a nuanced philosophical debate between submission and resistance.... full review

This show has my ABSOLUTE RECOMMENDATION! A must-see, authentic, stunning story executed brilliantly, I especially recommend fellow Asian artists to experience the show!... full review

Such a beautiful and touching story. Pretty heart wrenching actually, I cried :( the music and costumes really brought us into a world I knew very little about.... full review

Brilliant, moving, well-acted!... full review

There is a discipline and precision in Soo's theatre pieces that makes her shows so wonderful to watch. That being said, this powerful play forces me to look in the mirror and ask which character would represent me in the face of looming tyranny? Would I yield in fear or be defiant (or just sit in front of the TV with a bag of popcorn?) Can I live with myself as a neutral or yielding observer while others are marching, organizing and clenching their fists in resistance? Can I forgive myself for making a safe choice? A play that asks those questions is vitally important!... full review

This was a moving story about resilience and family that I haven’t stopped thinking about. The acting, the design, and the direction were incredible! ... full review