Napoli Music Café

The music drama Napoli Music Café — memories in music and story — returns to Guro after three years!

Inspired by the music cafés that existed in Guro from the 1970s, this music drama was developed and produced jointly by the Guro Cultural Foundation and Arirang’s creative team.

Synopsis

Min-hyuk, newly hired as assistant DJ at the Napoli Music Café run by DJ Jin-uk, dreams of becoming a singer like Cho Yong-pil. He falls for Gyeong-ja, a night-school girl who dreams of the University Song Festival — and keeps their connection alive by secretly writing fake replies to the fan letters she sends to DJ Jin-uk… Through the patter of the DJ, master of reading listeners’ stories, the hidden stories of the café’s customers unfold along with the music.

About the production

A healing trip back to an ’80s music café The 1980s Guro industrial complex, where workers gathered at go-go clubs to dance and enjoyed folk and pop at music cafés — the cosy café that embraced the people of that era comes alive again, with heart-pounding music and warm love for every audience member.

Are you dreaming now? We must remember that the dreams someone once held close to their aching heart came together to make the world we live in today. Napoli Music Café makes us ask what dreams we should dream again.

Retro or newtro — music that makes your heart flutter Original hits of the era sit alongside “newtro” remakes and new songs, for audiences of every age to enjoy together.

Production history

• 2020: Selected for the “Arts Everywhere” culture programme (KoCACA) and premiered at Guro Art Valley Arts Theatre
• 2021: Selected as an outstanding production; invited to Mungyeong, Sunchang and Yeongwol
• 2022: Selected as an outstanding production; toured Ulleung, Jeju, Hamyang, Boseong, Changnyeong and Ansan
• 2023: Selected as an outstanding private-company production; invited to Jeongseon and Okcheon
• 2023: Selected for the Arts Council Korea / Korea Mecenat matching fund; co-presented by Arirang and the Guro Cultural Foundation as Arirang’s 42nd regular season production