"A story that gives you the strength to trudge on,
rather than a rosy outlook.”
Selected as the
“2023 New Musical of the year” by the Arts Council of Korea.
The musical “Kiki’s Borderline Personality Disorder Diary” explores the personality disorders that many people suffer from nowadays but are lesser known in the form of a talk-show. It is a therapeutic show that will heal and console your heart.
The musical “Kiki's Borderline Personality Disorder Diary” was selected as the “2023 New Musical of the Year” by Arts Council Korea in recognition of the potential it has shown in its development stage. At the same time, it was supported with space for development by Korea Creative Content Agency. Within four weeks of its premiere, it sold more than 5,000 tickets in a small theatre with 170 seats, and received favorable reviews from major Korean media outlets and critics, including all the major press media, The Chosun Daily, Dong-a Ilbo, Yonhap News Agency, Edaily and Maeil Business Newspaper. In addition, the musical was awarded a plaque of appreciation at Korean Neuropsychiatric Association’s 2024 Spring Conference for its contribution to the promotion of mental health. Even after the premiere, it was recognized for its artistic quality and popularity, and in the summer of 2024, its live performance video will be screened online on Naver TV and in 11 CGV cinemas nationwide.
Words from major news articles
“The greatest virtue of this musical is its brightness and cheer despite
dealing with sick mind.”
by Lee Taehoon from THE CHOSUN Daily
Link to source
“The audience will have the strength to go forward slowly but steadily in both hands.”
by Lee Jiyun from the Dong-a Ilbo
About Musical
On a talk-show set are five hosts with extraordinary vibes, charming.
And there is our hero/ine, Kiki. !
Kiki, who describes him/herself as having borderline personality disorder, begins his/her story.
"We're all sick, a little bit..."
Kiki and the hosts play any gender and age. Kiki and Beth can be played by women and men, being daughter and mother or son and father, and the hosts are cast regardless of their gender or age.
“We have to go forward slowly but steadily.”
The show tells the story of Kiki, the protagonist with borderline personality disorder, as s/he recognizes and confronts her illness. It is a story about someone who can’t be cured completely due to the nature of personality disorders, struggles every day just to survive, and thinks s/he is hopeless. It is a story about understanding yourself, loving yourself a little more, and moving forward one step at a time.
It could be a story about us, or someone we can love.
20mins trailer
1mins trailer
Synopsis
“I acknowledge your pain and your illness, Kiki.”
A talk-show set. Kiki, who has borderline personality disorder, greets the audience, and begins his/her story.
Kiki explains that, after finding out about their borderline personality disorder (BPD), they began dialectical therapy.
After parting ways with their long-time significant other,
Kiki checks into a psychiatric hospital, where they learn from Ethan, a counselor, how to control their disease.
The therapy helps Kiki find a new job—and new relationship. However, it is still difficult for Kiki to face pain.
After completing the therapy program,
Kiki meets the families of other BPD patients at a BPD workshop, where they realize the importance of having the support of loved ones.
Kiki finds their mother/father, but the latter refuses to acknowledge Kiki’s disease.
Eventually, both take part in a painful counseling session.
Five years after dialectical therapy, Kiki stands once again before the audience.
They say with confidence that, although they still have BPD, they no longer self-hate—or, at least, are in the processing of learning to not self-hate.
About Creators
Jakjak Theatre Company is a creator-focused group composed of Cho Yoonji, a producer, writer, and a director, Kim Seungmin, a composer, and Hong Jiwon, a producer. The musical “Sylvia, Live” which was played at the same time as the company’s founding, received favorable reviews from audiences and critics upon its premiere to be nominated for Best Musical in the Korea Musical Awards, and was revived. Their next musical “Kiki’s Borderline Personality Disorder Diary” was chosen as an excellent work and was funded by the Arts Council Korea and the Korea Creative Content Agency at the same time. It was also sold out after its opening night solely by audience and media reviews. Even after the premiere, it was recognized for its artistic quality and popularity, and in the summer of 2024, its live performance video will be screened online on Naver TV and in 11 CGV cinemas nationwide.
Jakjak Theater company seeks to present individuals’ stories as they are, without glorifying them, and continues to work on the theme of “getting better” and “going forward”, focusing on individuals’ emotions, traumas and relationships.
Cho Yoonji / Playwright · Director · Producer
Cho Yoonji, who acts, writes, directs, and produces, stages honest stories about “getting better”, that can comfort us
Playwright·director Musical "Kiki's Borderline Personality Disorder Diary", "Macbeth", "Sylvia, Live", Theatre "Yoonji never want to sleep", and etc.
Actress Film "The Lee families", "Cashy", "The Unbearable Lightness of Mimi", Theatre "Yoonji never want to sleep", "43kilograms, Sang-A" and etc.
Kim Seungmin / Composer · Arranger
A person who cooks a warm soup with various sounds. Come visit me some time.
Composer Musical "Kiki's Borderline Personality Disorder Diary", "Sylvia, Live", Theatre "Yoonji never want to sleep", "43kilograms, Sang-A", Film "The Lee families", "Chasing" and etc.
Hong Jiwon / Producer
What leads us to theater? Hong Jiwon, a theater producer and an arts management researcher, works with artists to develop and produce new shows that are relevant and contemporary, while simultaneously conducting research on the present and future of the culture and arts.
Producer Musical "Kiki's Borderline Personality Disorder Diary", "Sylvia, Live", and etc.
Assistant Producer Musical "Dilkusha", "Four Minutes", "Spring, Again", "HERO", "The Last Empress", "History of Scruffiness", and etc.