Shakespeare Busking in Trafalgar Square
A little over a month had passed.
Thanks to Anne and Peter's passionate guidance, he had diligently learned and practiced singing. It was impossible to match their solid tones and clean resonance, or to freely navigate high registers with such skill. Still, compared to when he first started, he could feel his abilities steadily improving.
With such excellent instruction, it was time to put what he'd learned to use somewhere. So today's busking would be a bit different from the usual.
"Ready, Anne?"
Nod nod.
"Peter, okay?"
Another nod.
Confirming his colleagues' readiness, Woojin grabbed the mic without hesitation. To think he'd be singing in the heart of Trafalgar Square in the West End! With his first busking performance of his life ahead, his face was flushed with excitement.
♪♪♪♪♪
The backing track flowed from the amp, and before long, the crowd had encircled the three of them.
Welcome. Seeing a busking session with an Easterner in the West End—another first for you, huh?
Nothing will come of nothing. Who is it that can tell me who I am?
The worst is not so long as we can say, “This is the worst.”
Nothing arises from nothing—that's all there is to it.
Is there anyone who can tell me who I am?
As long as we can say, “This is the worst,” it can never truly be the worst.
— Shakespeare, King Lear
Peter kicked things off with a majestic tone, unleashing the roar of an old king lamenting the impermanence of time and his regrets. It drew the audience's full attention.
Soon enough,
"What's this? The backing track is definitely from Phantom of the Opera, but the lyrics are different!"
"That's a line from King Lear! They rewrote it?"
"Oh, that's a cool idea!"
The crowd's eyes widened. The melody was so familiar, yet the lyrics were completely different.
Ding, ding, dling~♬
The melody shifted quickly to a bright, upbeat piano intro.
No sooner had it ended than Anne took the baton.
Therefore, Shylock! Prepare to cut off the flesh.
But remember, you can not shed any blood.
You also have to remember not to cut off any more or less than just a pound!
So, Mr. Shylock! Prepare to carve out the flesh.
But mind you! Not a single drop of blood must be spilled,
and it must be exactly one pound—no more, no less!
— Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice
Portia's iconic line from The Merchant of Venice flowed with perfect rhythm.
At that moment,
"Puhaha!"
"Whoa!"
The crowd burst into laughter as a bonus.
The instant Anne began singing—
Thud!
Woojin dropped to his knees before her.
Before the confusion could fade, he made a pitiful, comical face like he was on the verge of tears.
"All hail the apostle of justice, Portia!"
"Bring judgment upon Shylock!"
In the people's eyes, Anne and Woojin had instantly become Portia and Shylock.
The transition was so natural that the cheers and reactions only grew louder.
This unique, creative busking overflowing with fresh ideas—it was all Woojin's concept.
The West End was known as the holy land of musicals, but theater was just as big a market.
Shakespeare couldn't be overlooked, especially since his works were beloved by Brits of all ages.
Wrapper: musical. Filling: theater.
This wild idea of breaking the mold started right there.
With the concept set, next up!
Shakespeare's 37 complete plays were packed with gem-like dialogue from his genius pen.
What if they picked a few and sang them over familiar melodies?
And added a touch more acting than in films or videos, but less than a full musical—perfect for busking?
Wouldn't that grab the audience's eyes and ears for sure?
Woojin's singing was relatively weaker than Anne and Peter's.
They could cover that. Woojin would contribute his superior acting—his performance edge.
It was a lineup where they perfectly complemented each other's strengths and weaknesses.
What could be more "efficient" for busking?
"Whew."
The surprise stage featuring Portia and Shylock wrapped up.
No time to rest.
Woojin let out a short sigh and gently closed his eyes.
He began focusing in silence, something manifesting as it seeped into his inner world.
"What's going on?"
"……."
The air shifted, the mood changed.
An unsettling aura emanated from the anonymous Eastern man.
Swallows echoed through the crowd.
Tension built.
A moment later,
"...the question."
Still bowing his head, Woojin murmured softly.
His sharp voice carried clearly thanks to the quiet amp.
Slash!
Woojin snapped his head back.
It wasn't just his voice that was piercing.
His gaze was colder, his expression icier, and most crucially...
The 'character's state' was utterly transformed.
"...To be, or not to be—that is the question."
The low, chilling voice struck the audience's ears again.
That line—could it be?!
Among his masterpieces, this one stood out with unmatched presence.
Hamlet.
"……."
"What the…."
Not just the crowd—even Anne and Peter standing beside him gaped.
They saw it clearly.
The man captivating their gaze was no longer Woojin, or some nameless Easterner.
...Hamlet stood there.
* * *
Videos shot from various angles of two British actors—a man and woman—and one Eastern man began flooding SNS.
In the flood of online info, overseas netizens quickly learned the Easterner was a Korean actor named Baek Woojin.
To be, or not to be—that is the question…
To live, or to die—that is the question…
The "to be or not to be" line was so famous that most knew only that much.
In truth, Hamlet's soliloquy was quite long.
He started like a pure theater piece, without music,
...There's the respect
That makes calamity of so long life.
For who would bear the whips and scorns of time,
Th'oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely,
The pangs of despised love, the law's delay,
The insolence of office, and the spurns
That patient merit of th'unworthy takes,
When he himself might his quietus make
With a bare bodkin?
Here's the rub.
That's why life is so cursed with calamity for so long.
Who would endure the whips and scorns of time without such hesitation?
The tyrant's wrongs, the proud man's insults,
the pangs of rejected love, the law's delays,
the office's arrogance, and the spurns
that the unworthy take from the deserving—
who would bear all that
when he could end it all with a bare blade?
His singing was good for an amateur, but not standout.
No fancy techniques either.
It felt almost too plain.
Anyone could tell he hadn't trained professionally or had only recently started.
Yet the video was impossible to look away from.
Hamlet, like a nightingale, poured out inexpressible agony and sorrow.
His emotions, elevated by song, pierced straight into the viewer's heart.
As always when something went viral, curiosity surged: If it's this good on video, what must it be like live?
Amazement and interest sparked a desire to see it firsthand.
Interest in the one-off "Our" performance amplified.
"This kind of attention—it's a first for us!"
"All thanks to Woojin."
Anne and Peter seemed thrilled by the pouring interest.
The thrill of a debut.
The two pure souls, who thought busking was just singing, were learning the industry's ways through Woojin.
Move yourself, but efficiently.
Seize it directly—that's the truth.
"All done!"
Woojin smiled contentedly.
Finally, the edited 'Busking Video Final.avi' from the past month's footage was complete.
Director and actor: Baek Woojin.
Actor: Anne Rollins.
Actor: Peter Henderson.
It was a short film made by "Our."