Review: KIM'S CONVENIENCE at Park Theatre, London

Photo credit: Mark Douet


Date: 12th January 2024

Seat: A8 (Circle)

Tickets: Gifted

Rating: 3 Stars 

What does Kim’s Convenience have in store for audiences? A lot of laughs, heart, and a story that everyone can understand, no matter what language they happen to speak. 

Kim’s Convenience was originally written in 2011 by Ins Choi, and thanks to how well the one-act play was received, a Netflix series of the same name was produced, which was also hugely popular. It’s still available to watch, and it’s well worth taking a look at if you want some gentle laughs and a real story – quite different from what most other sitcoms (for want of a better word) can manage. 

The story of Kim’s Convenience revolves around Mr Kim (or Appa as his family calls him) trying to deal with his fears of the future while also being a good father and husband. He doesn’t always get it right; he can be a bully, he can be rude, he borders on being racist, and he’s perpetually annoyed about something, but he tries. He really tries. And that’s what makes this play such a universal one. Yes, it’s set in Toronto, and yes, it’s about a Korean family, but the themes and ideas are ones we’ve all had to deal with at one time or another, which just goes to show how alike we all are underneath. 

This play is about hopes and dreams and how they don’t always work out – and how that’s okay. Sometimes, the goalposts shift, and in Kim’s Convenience, Appa’s dreams of his daughter, Janet (Jennifer Kim), taking over his precious convenience store become increasingly less and less likely. The good news is, with a shift of perspective, there might be someone else in the running. It’s just a matter of pride standing in the way. 

Photo credit: Mark Douet


Ins Choi himself plays Appa, the patriarch of the family, and his portrayal of a grumpy, tired, secretly scared man is fabulously heartwarming. Appa might be a cantankerous old tyrant, but it’s easy to see why he’s also well-loved. His long-suffering wife, Umma (Namju Go), and estranged son Jung (Brian Law) make up the rest of the family, and despite everything that happens (and has happened), they want to be with Appa – that’s very telling. 

The set is designed by Mona Camille, and it’s fantastic. From the fully stocked shelves to the slightly grubby floor, this feels like everyone’s local shop – we have absolutely all been in one of these places, and most of us probably routinely go to one to get our bits and pieces. So there’s a comforting familiarity to it all that allows the audience to settle into the story much more quickly. We know what’s what. 

The direction from Esther Jun is inspired. The characters use the set in a natural way, moving through the store just like anyone would – every time anyone crosses the threshold of the store, there’s even an electronic bell that rings. It feels authentic, and that’s one of the many things that makes Kim’s Convenience so enjoyable. 

Photo credit: Mark Douet


There are many funny one-liners in the play, and they really are laugh-out-loud moments, but Kim’s Convenience isn’t an out-and-out comedy. There were a couple of moments that brought a surprising lump to my throat, and the final scene is beautifully understated yet so powerful, and you’re left with a feeling of everything being as it should be. Not perfect – far from perfect – but just right. 

Kim's Convenience runs at the Park Theatre until 10th February 2024: https://parktheatre.co.uk/whats-on/kims-convenience

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