The seventh stage of the ‘2026 Coffee Concert,’ the signature matinee series at the Incheon Culture & Arts Center (Incheon Culture and Arts Center), will be held at 2 p.m. on Sept. 23 in the Small Hall. This installment features Theater Company Shinmyeongnage’s original pansori play ‘Moo — I’m Alive!,’ which unpacks ‘grandparent childcare’ — a new family challenge of the low-birth, aging era — with laughter and heart.
 [코리안투데이] A scene from the original pansori play ‘Moo — I’m Alive!’ © 장형임 기자 |
The Incheon Culture & Arts Center will present Theater Company Shinmyeongnage’s original pansori play ‘Moo — I’m Alive!’ as the seventh stage of its matinee series ‘2026 Coffee Concert’ at 2 p.m. on Sept. 23 in the Small Hall.
‘Moo — I’m Alive!’ takes as its subject ‘grandparent childcare,’ in which grandparents raise their grandchildren. It weaves this reality — which has emerged as a new family issue amid falling birthrates and an aging population — into the flair of pansori, the fun of madanggeuk (traditional participatory theater), and a family story anyone can relate to, so that audiences of all ages can enjoy it easily and comfortably.
The work aims to be a madanggeuk that audiences take part in and enjoy directly, rather than a performance they merely watch. Singer Kim Myeong-ja plays a range of characters single-handedly — the grandmother, her daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren, and even the singer Song Ga-in — while the drummer Park Myeong-eon does more than keep the rhythm, trading witty banter (datgeori) with the singer to enliven the play.
The story begins with the weary daily life of Lee Deok-bun, in her fifth year of grandparent childcare. Caring for her grandchildren from dawn and shouldering the housework, Lee happens to learn vocalization at a ‘Pansori Hwabyeong Healing Center’ and works out her frustrations, but after repeated nagging from her daughter and son-in-law she finally hands in her ‘grandparent childcare resignation’ and tries to leave home. In the end, however, she cannot shake off her weeping, clinging grandchildren, and the son-in-law resolves to take parental leave and grow into a true father — a heartwarming conclusion.
Held just ahead of the Chuseok holiday, the show is expected to become an occasion for parent and child generations to understand each other’s efforts and reflect on the meaning of family. According to the center, the play cheerfully addresses the real-world generational tension of grandparent childcare amid laughter and merriment, offering warm comfort.
Launched in 2008, the ‘Coffee Concert’ is a matinee held at 2 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month. It has drawn a cumulative audience of more than 93,000 and enjoyed steady affection, establishing itself as Incheon’s signature branded performance where audiences can enjoy various genres over a fragrant cup of coffee, and it is now expanding its popularity nationwide.
Admission is 15,000 won for all seats, and the show is open to elementary school students and older. Details are available on the Incheon Culture & Arts Center website, and inquiries can be made to the Incheon Culture & Arts Center (032-420-2731~9).
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