It’s 1951 and the Korean War rages in Kapyong, North of Seoul, Korea.
Vastly outnumbered, UN Canadian forces refuse to withdraw. Eventually, opposing forces retreat.
The Canadians did it. They’d successfully defended crucial Korean territory.
Considered a pivotal moment in the 1950-53 Korean War, the Battle of Kapyong is now the source of inspiration for the new musical, R;Link, coming to BlueShore Financial Centre for the Performing Arts at Capilano University, on Aug. 15 and 16. This follows its premiere in Seoul in July.
Honouring cross-cultural bonds
R;Link was commissioned to celebrate the 2024-2025 Year of Korea-Canada Cultural Exchange. Inspired by true stories of soldiers playing hockey on a frozen river, the musical captures the joy and connection found through sport and honours the friendships that formed between Korean and Canadian troops during the war.
The musical itself united students from Korea’s Hanyang University, the University of Saskatchewan, First Nations University and Capilano University.
R;Link features fantastic performances, imaginative set design, a score inspired by pop, hip-hop, swing jazz, traditional Korean music and more and exciting choreography – some of the latter performed on rollerblades.
Three performers in R;LINK are CapU Musical Theatre alumni: Colton Fyfe, Sandrine Bourdrias and Kyla Fradette. The three were selected not only for their talents and skills but also for the unique experiences each could bring to the production. Colton Fyfe, for example, has a connection to the Canadian military through his involvement with the Canadian Cadets.
Sandrine, a French-Canadian, is a competitive hockey player and is helping the acting team with their hockey skills. Sandrine is playing Lt. Col. Tremblay, inspired by the real Lt. Col. Stone, who led the Canadian regiment to their remarkable victory in Kapyong. When asked about what it’s been like to work on the project, Sandrine said, “It’s all about collaboration and that truly inspires me. It’s so beautiful to see and hear both cultures and languages intertwine with each other.”
Kyla Fradette has a background in opera and brings specialized training in singing in foreign languages to the production. The special experience of international artists coming together is also something Kyla remarked on. “The language differences that we thought would slow down the process have developed into meaningful conversations,” she says. “We’ve adopted new words into our rehearsal process and are working collaboratively to portray Canadian culture and history with authenticity.”
The spirit of collaboration and friendship is reflected in the play’s title. R;Link refers to how people become connected—or “linked”—on the rink. Tickets are $12. Visit www.purchase.capilanou.ca/events to learn more.
