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South Korea’s ‘Cookin’ Nanta’ brings relentless beats to Manila
Award-winning spectacle "Cookin' Nanta" was created to reach out to people outside South Korea—and it did not fail. Before K-Pop became a global phenomenon, this non-verbal show has been invading theaters worldwide, even on Broadway. And now, Cookin' Nanta is all set to bring their brand of entertainment to Manila.
The show has been performed 31,580 times, drawing a total of over 10 million audience members since it debuted in Seoul in October 1997. It has been so successful that it has its own theaters in South Korea where cast members perform almost every day: Gangbuk Jeongdong Nanta Theatre, Myeongdong Nanta Theatre, Hongdae Nanta Theatre, and Jeju Nanta Theatre.
Watch: Seoul's Cookin' Nanta is a show that uses beats, movements, and sounds instead of dialogue. pic.twitter.com/ZRJ9Xct80V
— Trisha Macas (@trishamacas) November 4, 2015
"Cookin' Nanta" is not your ordinary show. It does not have any dialogue. The performers don't even sing. Instead, the show uses beats, movements, and sounds to move the show forward. To begin with, the word "nanta" means "to strike relentlessly" in Hangul.
The backbone of the show is the samulnori, the traditional percussion music of Korea—but with a brilliant twist: the performers do not use traditional instruments to make the rhythms and beats. Instead, they use chopping boards, knives (yes, they are shiny, sharp, and real!), vegetables, and other kitchen stuff.
This is because "Cookin' Nanta" tells the story of three chefs: Head Chef (played by Ko Chang Hwan), Hot Sauce (Jeong Bo Ram), and Sexy Guy (Chang Kyoung Soo). They are about to start their day in the restaurant when The Manager (Hwang Yo Han) tells them to prepare for a wedding party. Worse, he puts his troublesome Nephew (Nam Dong Hoon) in the kitchen, making the task more difficult for the chefs.
Watch: The cast of Cookin' Nanta striking a wooden chopping board with real knives. Do not try this at home. pic.twitter.com/FSpGlUeh5S
— Trisha Macas (@trishamacas) November 4, 2015
The cast members admitted during a press conference on Wednesday that keeping up with "Cookin' Nanta" is a challenge.
The audition process alone is meant to get the best among the hopefuls.
Ko Chang Hwan said that once aspirants passed the first audition, they have to practice for 12 hours a day or more for the next six months. Then, another audition will be held to determine the final cast members for the shows.
But the work does not end there. Even after making the cut they have to practice really hard to prevent major injuries from using real kitchen items such as knives.
For the cast, seeing others happy has made it all worth it.
"If they feel heavy [emotionally]... they will feel better after the show," Jeong Bo Ram, the only female cast member, said. — BM, GMA News
Cookin' Nanta will run from November 10 to 15 at The Theatre at Solaire. Ticket prices are as follows: VIP - P4,500, A Reserve - P3,500, B Reserve - P2,800, C Reserve - P1,200, and D Reserve - P600. Visit ticketworld.com.ph for more information.
