One of South Korea’s most celebrated new musicals is set to arrive in London this year as the award-winning You & It transfers to the King’s Head Theatre in Islington for a limited run.
Set in a near-future world where humans and AI coexist, the musical follows a grieving widower who encounters an artificial intelligence created in the image of his late wife. As technology offers him a second chance at connection, he is forced to confront grief, memory and the true meaning of love.
Blending an emotionally charged love story with timely questions about artificial intelligence, memory and what it means to be human, You & It has become one of the most successful original Korean musicals of recent years, earning acclaim across Asia and the UK.
Winner of the Best Musical Award at the 13th Daegu International Musical Festival (DIMF), You & It has steadily grown from an emerging Korean work into an international success story. Following productions in South Korea and Taiwan, the musical was selected for showcase performances in London before becoming the first Korean original musical to present a fully localised English-language production at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2024, where it enjoyed a critically acclaimed month-long run.
At a time when artificial intelligence is increasingly shaping everyday life, You & It offers a moving and deeply personal perspective on technology’s impact on human relationships. Combining an intimate two-person story with a soaring contemporary score, the musical asks a universal question: if technology can recreate the people we love, what truly makes us human?
Praised internationally for its emotional storytelling, universal themes and poignant exploration of humanity in the age of AI, You & It returns to London for its most ambitious UK staging to date.
The arrival of You & It in London comes amid the continued global rise of Korean culture. While K-Pop artists have filled stadiums worldwide and Korean film and television have become international phenomena, Korean musical theatre is increasingly attracting attention beyond its borders. Developed within South Korea’s vibrant theatre scene, You & It is part of a new generation of original Korean musicals helping to showcase the country’s creativity, storytelling and artistic ambition to audiences around the world.
Peter Huntley of Smart Entertainment described it as “a beautiful musical about grief, loss, love and moving on”, while producer Debbie Hicks called it “a universal human experience” with themes that resonate across cultures.
Critics at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe praised the show’s emotional impact and musicality, with Mervyn Stutter’s Pick of the Fringe calling it “beautifully written and exquisitely produced and performed”, while Broadway Baby described it as “the one to watch for lovers of new musical theatre”.
The London run marks another milestone in the growing international success of Korean musical theatre and follows continued support for the production from South Korea’s cultural institutions, including the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Korea Arts Management Service and Arts Council Korea.
Eunggyu Lee, Producer and CEO of EG Musical Company, said:
“Over the past decade, audiences around the world have embraced Korean music, film and television. We believe Korean musical theatre deserves to be part of that conversation too. You & It tells a deeply personal story, but its themes of love, grief and humanity are universal. That’s why audiences in Korea, Taiwan and Edinburgh have connected with it, and we’re excited to share it with even more people through this production.”
He added:
“It is incredibly meaningful for us to bring You & It back to London. From its beginnings at DIMF to performances across Korea, Taiwan, Edinburgh and now London, the journey of this musical has shown us that its story speaks to audiences everywhere. We hope London audiences will connect with its message of love, loss, humanity and hope.”
“We’re thrilled to be bringing You & It to London and to be working once again with EG Musical Company”, said Stephen McGill, Founder of MCG Productions. “The show’s success since its launch in Korea has been extraordinary, and we’re excited for even more audiences to experience its powerful story. Beautifully written, emotionally resonant and incredibly timely, You & It is exactly the kind of international musical theatre that deserves to be seen on the UK stage.”
Casting and further production details will be announced in due course.
Original Writers: Seoeun Oh and Q Lee
Original Lyrics and Composer: Q Lee
Executive Creative Producer: Eunggyu Lee
Art Director: Minje Lee
Artwork Designer: Gangwon Boo
AI Tech Director: Minkyoung Park
Planning & Production Producer: Ara Cho
Supported by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Korea Arts Management Service.
YOU & IT
King’s Head Theatre
116P Upper Street
London, N1 1QP
Box Office: 020 7226 8561 (3-5.30pm)
Tickets from £15 – £45
Running from 20th August – 26th September 2026
