History repeated itself this year - the uprising in Tunisia bore a striking resemblance to the one that took place in Gwangju, South Korea in 1980. Jasmine Gwangju is an attempt to share this common experience of sorrow and hope, but in no way is it a heavyweight piece of political theatre. It is, instead, a beautiful story about the human spirit, despair and ultimate triumph told through traditional Korean music, dancing, Shamanic rituals and digital art.Jasmine Gwangju, produced especially for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this year, brings together the best performers from across Gwangju. The show is based on the events of May 18 1980, the day on which thousands of mostly young citizens took to the streets to protest against the repressive military dictatorship in South Korea. This led to one hundred and forty-four civilians being brutally killed. The city is still healing, although the uprising did pave the way for later movements that eventually brought democracy and prosperity to South Korea.The show is essentially a ceremony in which the restless spirit of one of the victims of the uprising, suitably named ‘Gwangju’, trapped between worlds of the living and the dead, finally finds peace. It is presented beautifully and even those of us not familiar with the South Korean history and culture are able to follow, understand and appreciate this emotive performance. It climaxes in the form of a visually spectacular traditional Shaman ceremony in which the audience joins in, releasing the unhappy soul of Gwangju. In the process, it feels as if the audience and the performers are healing together, and that is exactly the point - the ritual cleansing is not just for the dead, it is for the living too.This large-scale production is a theatrical spectacle, one that is able to remind us of the spiritual connection each of us has with the rest of humankind. An absolute rare treat.
