Tether 인연
★★★☆☆ Melodic
Summerhall (Venue 26): Thurs 6 – Mon 31 Aug 2026
Review by Hugh Simpson
Tether 인연 from Wonder Fools at Summerhall for the whole Fringe is a cross-cultural experience that has heart and melody in abundance.
A collaboration between Scotland’s Wonder Fools and Korea’s theatre SAN that was originally envisaged in the Summerhall courtyard in 2024, this tells a story across continents and decades. Written and directed by Wonder Fools’ Robbie Gordon and Jack Nurse and SAN’s Yoon Junghwan, the production blends narrative, music and dance.
A scene from Tether 인연. Pic Ruari Barbour-Flemming.
In 1918, a Korean Bible student in Glasgow (Hyeonkyu Choi) meets and falls for a pub-owner’s (Molly Bryson). In 1951, a nurse (Naomi Stirrat) tends the wounded in the Korean War. And in 1970, an academic (Misoo Kim) visits a Glasgow woman (Isabella Jarrett) who unexpectedly knows Korean songs.
No prizes for guessing that it is all one story and many of the characters recur across time. The cast (also featuring Junwoo Hwang and Martin Donaghy) perform with spirit, empathy and energy. A live band provides music (composer Stuart Ramage) with both Scottish and Korean elements, and audience volunteers join the cast to dance the Gay Gordons or the Korean circle dance the Ganggangsullae.
internationalism
The dialogue is in both English and Korean, with bilingual subtitles projected on a large screen, which works well and subtly provides a message of internationalism. The themes about the importance of passing on music to safeguard a nation’s identity and traditions are heartfelt, but may be laid on a bit thick.
While it is an accomplished production, it is all a trifle rushed, with some parts of the story being less satisfactorily explored than others. The hour-long Fringe slot means that the selection and coaching of audience volunteers happens very quickly, and the musical interludes (and the music itself) don’t always have the necessary breathing space. The choreography (by Gordon and Nam Hyunwoo) is impressive and leads to some compellingly exuberant movement, but it sometimes appears hemmed in by the space.
A scene from Tether 인연. Pic Ruari Barbour-Flemming.
The story, meanwhile, teeters on the edge of the predictable and sentimental, something not necessarily helped by the Scottish song choices (Auld Lang Syne, Loch Lomond) being a shade obvious. Whether the same is true of the Korean music I am in no position to judge, but the fact that even BTS have named an album Arirang after the song featured here suggests it is just as omnipresent.
In any event, there is really insufficient evidence to judge whether the emotional and musical content of the two musical traditions are as analogous as is being suggested. There may be a deep, longing and melancholy shading into resentment that is present in the two countries’ songs, but lots of other cultures have that as well.
wide appeal
This is a production which would have a better life outside the Fringe, around the community halls of Scotland or Korea. Over an evening’s entertainment the narrative would have more room to breath and the audience interaction be more exhilarating, creating a more rounded piece.
As it is, there is still a great deal of enjoyment to be found in a production with wide appeal.
Running time: One hour (no interval).
Summerhall (Main Hall), 1 Summerhall, EH9 1PL (Venue 26).
Thursday 6 – Monday 31 August 2026.
Daily (not 18, 25): 4.30pm.
Tickets and details: Book here at EdFringe.com.
Tickets direct from venue: Book here.
Wonder Fools website: www.wonderfools.org
Facebook: @wonderfoolsonline
Instagram: @wonder_fools_online
TikTok: @wonder_fools_online
Linktree: @wonderfools.
A scene from Tether 인연. Pic Ruari Barbour-Flemming.
ENDS
