--- title: "The Comfort Woman" slug: the-comfort-woman discipline: [theatre, film] start_date: "2023" end_date: "2026" status: in-production canonical: "https://www.gaiahouseproductions.com/projects/the-comfort-woman" --- # The Comfort Woman > A powerful story of memory, loss of innocence and the imagination of childhood with the devastating realities of war and violence against women and girls. - **Discipline**: theatre, film - **Years**: 2023–2026 - **Status**: in-production - **Canonical URL**: https://www.gaiahouseproductions.com/projects/the-comfort-woman ## Created by - Kate Elliott - Antje Mangeant - Minjeong Kim ## About The Comfort Woman tells the powerful story of Minja, a young Korean girl deceived and taken captive by the Japanese army during World War II, and forced into years of servitude. Based on true events, it represents the thousands of untold stories of real victims. Originally created as a one-woman theatre production written and performed by Minjeong Kim and directed by Kate Elliott, The Comfort Woman was only intended to run for three nights at the Rosemary Branch Theatre in London. But after receiving rave reviews and overwhelming audience response urging the story to reach a wider audience, Gaia House Productions was born. Since then, the production has continued to grow, reaching new venues and expanding audiences, while securing support from the Arts Council England to further develop the project. Now, a short film adaptation, which blends live action and animation, is in production. The film aims to bring this important story to audiences around the world. Filming is now complete, and we are seeking Executive Producers and supporters to help bring the project through its final stages and ensure these stories continue to be heard. You can read more about The Comfort Woman’s journey below. ## Productions ### Debut — Rosemary Branch Theatre (2024) - **Location**: London - **Dates**: 2024-05-13 – 2024-05-15 - **Status**: scheduled **Cast** - Cast: Minjeong Kim (Minja) **Crew** - Director: Kate Elliott ### Kings Head Theatre, London — King's Head Theatre (2024) - **Location**: London - **Dates**: 2024-09-22 – 2024-09-25 - **Status**: scheduled **Cast** - Cast: Minjeong Kim (Minja) **Crew** - Director: Kate Elliott - Producer: Antje Mangeant - Technician: Valentin Burwell ### Lambeth Fringe Festival — Bread & Roses Theatre (2024) - **Location**: London - **Dates**: 2024-07-12 – 2024-07-13 - **Status**: scheduled - **Event**: https://lambethfringe.com/events/the-comfort-woman **Cast** - Cast: Minjeong Kim (Minja) **Crew** - Director: Kate Elliott - Producer: Antje Mangeant ### Short Film - Coming soon (2025) - **Status**: in-production - **Location**: London - **Shoot**: 2025-10-25 – 2025-10-26 **Cast** - Cast: Minjeong Kim (Minja) **Crew** - Director: Kate Elliott - Producer: Antje Mangeant - Co-producer: Minjeong Kim - Director of Photography: Oliver Craig - 1st Assistant Director: Daniel Pachalski - Editor: Yoon Hong - Animator: Seungeon Yi ### Community preview and Q&A at Hartfield Hub — Hartfield Hub (2026) - **Location**: London - **Dates**: 2026-02-20 – 2026-02-21 - **Status**: scheduled - **Event**: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/theatre-performance-the-comfort-woman-community-preview-and-qa-tickets-1980439822822 **Cast** - Cast: Minjeong Kim (Minja) **Crew** - Director: Anna Udras - Producer: Olivia Woods - Music & Arrangement: Ji Eun Jung - Lighting Director: Abbie Sage - Movement Director: Laure Bachelot ### Re-written and re-imagined for Omnibus Theatre — Omnibus Theatre (2026) - **Location**: London - **Dates**: 2026-03-03 – 2026-03-07 - **Status**: scheduled **Cast** - Cast: Minjeong Kim (Minja) **Crew** - Director: Anna Udras - Producer: Olivia Woods - Music & Arrangement: Ji Eun Jung - Lighting Director: Abbie Sage - Movement Director: Laure Bachelot ## Press - “The delivery is breathtaking. At times, I found myself closing my eyes, and the sounds alone were enough to make a pit grow in my chest.” — *Andrei-Alexandru Mihail* (5/5) — [Everything Theatre](https://everything-theatre.co.uk/2024/05/review-the-comfort-woman-rosemary-branch-theatre/) - “The highlight of this one-woman show is an epic physical performance from Minjeong Kim. […] She effortlessly captures an array of figures in this story with such precision.” — *Dan Sinclair* (3/5) — [All That Dazzles](https://www.allthatdazzles.co.uk/post/review-the-comfort-woman-king-s-head-theatre) - “Minjeong Kim as a solo artist gave an absolutely powerful performance, her great acting characterisation skills being very worthy of high commendation.” — *Melanie Lam* (4.5/5) — [London Pub Theatres](https://www.londonpubtheatres.com/review-the-comfort-woman-by-minjeong-kim-at-kings-head-theatre-22-25-september-2024) - “Through Kim's tender performance and the soul-stirring strings of the gayageum, the production invites audiences to sit with a history that is too often overlooked.” — *Diana Feng* (4/5) — [West End Best Friend](https://www.westendbestfriend.co.uk/news/review-the-comfort-woman-omnibus-theatre) - “The Comfort Woman is not an easy watch: if you are prone to tears, come prepared. But Kim affords her protagonist immense, heartwarming dignity.” — *John Cutler* (4/5) — [The Reviews Hub](https://www.thereviewshub.com/the-comfort-woman-omnibus-theatre-london/) - “This is a sobering and essential piece of theatre. With clarity, dignity and immense craft, the creative team have ensured this painful chapter of history is not allowed to fade into silence.” — *Owen Thomas James* (5/5) — [Everything Theatre](https://everything-theatre.co.uk/2026/03/review-the-comfort-woman-omnibus-theatre/) - “Kim is supremely talented; a force to be reckoned with. She brings humour, warmth and a bucket full of emotion to this character and to this complex, harrowing narrative.” — *Katie Shaw* (4/5) — [Theatre Weekly](https://theatreweekly.com/review-the-comfort-woman-at-omnibus-theatre/) --- *HTML version: https://www.gaiahouseproductions.com/projects/the-comfort-woman*