Rev Stan's Theatre Blog

The Comfort Woman at the Omnibus Theatre is the story of innocence violently ripped away and the fight for survival that ensues.

Drawn from the real accounts of survivors, it centres on 13-year-old Minja, who lives in a small village.

She plays with her friends and has a crush on an older boy, but one day she is lured away by a false promise of doing some honest paid work.

Minjeong Kim plays Minja and all the other characters. Her expressive performance at times populates the stage so it doesn’t feel like a monologue.

She beautifully captures the joy and bubbly innocence of Minja before her kidnapping. Her chastising mother, giggling friends and the cool swagger of the boy she has a crush on.

Then come the men, the soldiers and medics and the fear, despair, stoicism and shame as her story unfolds alongside other girls who’ve similarly been kidnapped.

The narrative is given added depth through Ji Eun Jung’s beautiful musical accompaniment on the gayagum.

It mirrors the emotional arc of the story from light and effervescent to haunting and harrowing. And yet it is never intrusive, allowing silence to be its own powerful backdrop.

Final thoughts

The Comfort Woman at the Omnibus Theatre is an important story about violence against women, told unflinchingly and effectively.

It’s not always an easy watch, but it is gripping and affecting storytelling. I’m giving it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Comfort Woman, Omnibus Theatre

Written and performed by Minjeong Kim

Music and arrangements: Ji Eun Jung

Directed by Anna Udras

Running time: 70 minutes

Booking until 7 March, for more information and to buy tickets, visit the Omnibus Theatre website

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