Winners Revealed For The 2023 Seoul Arts Awards

The five winners of the inaugural Seoul Arts Awards are announced tonight (7.30pm, Monday 14 August) at an award ceremony held in Assembly's Ballroom. These new awards were set up to celebrate and encourage the global cultural exchange of performing arts without language barriers.

The 2023 winners include:

• Kulunka Teatro's André and Dorine at Assembly Ballroom - a poignant depiction of the enduring love between an elderly couple

• Recirquel Cirque Danse's IMA at Assembly Murrayfield Ice Rink - an immersive circus experience

• Släpstick's Schërzo at Pleasance Beyond - a performance of classical music as you've never experienced it before

• Circa's Peepshow (Club Remix) at Underbelly's Circus Hub - joined by a live DJ and featuring some of the best acrobatic talents in the world

• The 7 Fingers Dual Reality at Underbelly's Circus Hub - witness to two groups in opposition by default, consumed by a desire to rise above the other. 

The launch of the Seoul Arts Awards is to reward the diverse range of high quality talent at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe from around the world. Each of the winners will receive an opportunity to perform in the Republic of Korea over the next two years. 
Angella Kwon, Global Cultural Exchange Committee Chair said: “It's gratifying to be able to select outstanding performances as award-winners. The performances are beautiful and astonishing with each one delivering a unique sense of the 'wow factor'. I cannot contain my joy at creating an opportunity to introduce such wonderful performances to South Korean audiences and I hope to use these awards as a chance to further strengthen global cultural exchange.”

Winners quotes:

“The 7 Fingers is deeply honoured to receive a Seoul Arts Award for our show Duel Reality. As one of only 5 non-Korean companies to be recognised this year, it is an enormous privilege to be amongst this group of extraordinary artists and productions. Wholehearted thanks to the presenters of the Seoul Arts Awards for including us in this selection and congratulations to the other recipients.”

“We, Släpstick, are extremely honoured and grateful to receive a Seoul Arts Award for our show Schërzo. We're ecstatic that our brand of musical comedy matches the Korean sense of humour better than our national food of stroopwafels matches with kimchi. Thank you for this wonderful and prestigious prize!”

Bence Vági, Artistic Director of Recirquel, director-choreographer of IMA said: “We are honoured to receive a Seoul Arts Awards for our immersive circus dance production IMA. I am grateful for Assembly and William Burdett-Coutts for believing in our artistic vision and welcoming us at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.”

“Kulunka Teatro said: "It is an honour for us to accept this award and that this story continues to move such a diverse public of so many nationalities. We haven't had a chance to show our work in Korea yet but hopefully, this will serve as the first step.”