Kim’s Convenience, Riverside Studios review
A sitcom-style highlight reel of Ins Choi’s best moments, brought together in a hilarious and heartwarming performance exploring immigration, community and family values.

Kim's Convenience at the Park Theatre. By Ins Choi. Directed by Esther Jun. Photo by Mark Douet.
Canadian Ins Choi’s award-winning play Kim’s Convenience, which inspired a hit Netflix comedy adaptation of the same name, is back in theatres this Autumn with a brief stint at Riverside Studios in Hammersmith.
The sitcom-style comedy drama follows Mr Kim, a first generation Korean-Canadian convenience store owner, and his second generation children, as they navigate the growing division between their values and ambitions against the backdrop of neighbourhood gentrification and uncertainty around the future of their store.
Each character is well-drawn and the script plays to many of the themes familiar to immigrant families: daughter Janet’s (Jennifer Kim) photography career is misunderstood and maligned by Mr Kim as a hobby, and her lack of a boyfriend the topic of much question and debate. Absent son Jung (Edward Wu), who rebelled against the family patriarch in search of an independent life at 16, is now haunted by his own frustrated ambitions. Choi himself takes on the role of Mr Kim, which is brilliantly written – hilarious, outspoken, and at times prejudiced, he is a loveable yet endlessly frustrating patriarch.
It is only Mrs Kim (Namju Go) who feels a little thin. She exists to augment the stories of her husband and children, and beyond a brief subplot about the future of her church in the face of wealthy developers taking over the community, we learn little of her own experience of leaving Korea for a new life in America.

Kim's Convenience at the Park Theatre. By Ins Choi. Directed by Esther Jun. Photo by Mark Douet
Mona Camille’s set design brings the whole play together. It feels as though we have been invited into Mr Kim’s store, complete with imported drinks and snacks from Korea, tall coolers bursting with fizzy drinks and cupboards behind the counter hiding cigarettes and scratchcards from view. There is even a Kim’s Convenience inspired stall in the foyer of Riverside Studios offering kimbap (seaweed roles) and instant noodles to the audience.
Choi’s script is fast-paced and funny, and each of the characters have their own engaging storylines, so it feels somewhat abrupt when lights go down after only a little over an hour. We are left with unfinished stories and questions around the future of the Kim family – perhaps a testimony to the fact that it ran to five series on Netflix.
When prodigal son Jung returns to the store there is an initial sense of resolution shown in the strength of family ties and connection to his Korean heritage. However, it feels too easy, as though Choi is wrapping the up story with a neat bow. This is episodic theatre, too constrained by the parameters of a thirty-minute series to dig much below the surface – but its punchy writing and feel-good nature makes for an enjoyable night out.
Kim’s Convenience is playing at Riverside Studios until 26 October 2024. Find out more and buy tickets here.
Words by Ellen Hodgetts
What’s On in London This Week: Discover rooftop games at Roof East, cherry blossoms at the Horniman Gardens, and Easter fun at Hampton Court Palace. Plus, catch Loraine James live, Dear England at the National Theatre, and jazz nights at Ladbroke Hall…
London is set to showcase a rich and varied programme of art exhibitions this May. Here is our guide to the art exhibitions to watch out for in London in May…
With summer around the corner, what better way to spend a sunny day than by enjoying art, culture, and a bit of al fresco dining? Whether you’re looking for a peaceful spot to reflect on an exhibition or simply want to enjoy a light meal in the fresh air, here’s our guide to some of the best museum and gallery cafés with outdoor terraces in London….
As summer arrives in London, there’s no better time to embrace the city’s vibrant outdoor dining scene. Here is our guide to the best outdoor terraces to visit in London in 2025 for an unforgettable al fresco experience…
Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025 · Gabriel Moses: Selah · Eileen Perrier: A Thousand Small Stories · Dianne Minnicucci: Belonging and Beyond · Linder: Danger Came Smiling · The Face Magazine: Culture Shift · Cecil Beaton’s Fashionable World · Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation Prize 2025 · Photo London 2025 · Taylor Wessing Photo Portrait Prize · Nature Study: Ecology and the Contemporary Photobook · Flowers – Flora in Contemporary Art & Cultur…
This April, Ladbroke Hall’s renowned Friday Jazz & Dinner series returns, showcasing an impressive roster of artists at its Sunbeam Theatre. Each evening pairs exceptional live jazz with a carefully crafted menu from the award-winning Pollini restaurant…
Holly Blakey: A Wound with Teeth & Phantom · Kit de Waal: The Best of Everything · Skatepark Mette Ingvartsen · Spring Plant Fair 2025 · Hampton Court Palace Tulip Festival 2025 · Loraine James – Three-Day Residency · Jan Lisiecki Plays Beethoven · Carmen at The Royal Opera House · Cartier Exhibition · The Carracci Cartoons: Myths in the Making · Nora Turato: pool7 · Amoako Boafo: I Do Not Come to You by Chance · Bill Albertini: Baroque-O-Vision Redux…
Murder She Didn’t Write is misbehaviour live on stage peppered with self-awareness and unbelievably good writing. This isn't a fad, this isn't sloppy - it’s naughty and scathingly witty…
Robyn Orlin had her first encounter with the rickshaw drivers of Durban at the young age of five or six, an experience that left such a deep impression on her that she later sought to learn more about their fate. Rickshaws were first introduced to Durban in 1892…
TOZI, derived from the affectionate Venetian slang for “a close-knit group of friends,” is the brainchild of an Italian trio that met while opening Shoreditch House under the Soho House Group. In 2013, Chef Maurilio Molteni, fresh from his time as Head Chef at Shoreditch House and developing the menu at Cecconi’s, opened the first TOZI restaurant in London…
Multitudes at Southbank Centre will reimagine live music through bold collaborations across dance, theatre, and visual arts…
Multitudes Festival · Ed Atkins, Tate Britain · Brick Lane Jazz Festival · Teatro La Plaza’s Hamlet · Holly Blakey: A Wound with Teeth & Phantom · Roof East · Hampton Court Palace Tulip Festival 2025 · London Marathon 2025 · ROOH – Within Her · Sultan Stevenson Presents El Roi · Carmen at The Royal Opera House · The Big Egg Hunt 2025 · Architecture on Stage: New Architects · The Friends of Holland Park Annual Art Exhibition 2025
Autumn 2025 will bring two exciting exhibitions to the Barbican: ‘Dirty Looks’, a bold fashion exhibition exploring imperfection and decay, and an innovative art installation by Lucy Raven in The Curve…
Robyn Orlin: We wear our wheels with pride · Architecture on Stage: Lütjens Padmanabhan · Jay Bernard: Joint · Black is the Color of My Voice · Joe Webb Trio · Rhodri Davies at Cafe OTO · Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year Award 2025 · Lyon Opera Ballet: Cunningham Forever · AVA London · Sister Midnight · Astonishing Things: The Drawings of Victor Hugo · Eunjo Lee · Arpita Singh: Remembering · Fiona Banner aka The Vanity Press: Disarm · Bunhead Bakery · Time & Talents
Looking for something truly special this Mother’s Day? There are a variety of unique gifts and experiences to take advantage of in London, whether your mother loves exploring world-class art galleries and museum exhibitions, wandering through historic homes filled with fascinating stories and remarkable collections, indulging in a luxurious spa treatment, or enjoying an unforgettable dining experience..
After 18 successful years at Edinburgh Fringe, The Big Bite Size Show arrives in London for the first time at The Pleasance Theatre, no less. A gem of a place for fringe theatre in London…
180 Studios will present the largest showcase of photographer and filmmaker Gabriel Moses’ work to date, featuring over 70 photographs and 10 films in March…
Cartier Exhibition at the V&A · Giuseppe Penone: Thoughts in the Roots · Antony Gormley: WITNESS · Richard Wright at Camden Art Centre · The Carracci Cartoons: Myths in the Making · Eileen Perrier: A Thousand Small Stories · Ed Atkins at Tate Britain · Richard Hunt: Linear Peregrination · Nolan Oswald Dennis at Gasworks · Nora Turato: pool7 · In House: Ree Bradley and Pete Gomes at Studio Voltaire…
The Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art at Kew Gardens will showcase new botanical works, cinematic installations, and the connections between artists and trees…
Orchid Festival · Alice Sara Ott: John Field & Beethoven · Our Mighty Groove at Sadler’s Wells East · Seth Troxler at Fabric · North London Laughs – A Charity Comedy Night · London Symphony Orchestra: Half Six Fix – Walton · In Focus: Amir Naderi · Artist Talk: Citra Sasmita - Into Eternal Land · Noah Davis at Barbican · Theaster Gates: 1965: Malcolm in Winter: A Translation Exercise · Ai Weiwei: A New Chapter · Galli: So, So, So · Somaya Critchlow: The Chamber
An important exhibition has opened at the National Gallery co-organised with the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Mayor of Siena, Nicoletta Fabio was in attendance on opening day to mark the exhibitions significance. Normally a major exhibition would take two to three years to come to fruition, in this instance, it has been in the making for eight year…
Máret Ánne Sara to create 2025 Hyundai Commission as Tate and Hyundai extend partnership to 2036.
Claudia Pagès Rabal: Five Defence Towers · Tirzah Garwood: Beyond Ravilious · Heather Agyepong: Through Motion · Christina Kimeze · Citra Sasmita: Into Eternal Land · Mire Lee: Open Wound · Linder: Danger Came Smiling · Galli: So, So, So · Mickalene Thomas: All About Love …
Marylebone Village to host a week of events championing female founders and entrepreneurs, including a panel discussion and fundraising for the Marylebone Project…
Battersea Power Station will host Good Fit, a month-long event featuring workouts, mindfulness sessions, expert talks, and wellness experiences…
Trisha Brown Dance Company & Noé Soulier – Working Title & In the Fall · (LA)HORDE / Ballet National de Marseille – Age of Content · Lyon Opera Ballet – Merce Cunningham Forever (BIPED and Beach Birds) · Neither Drums Nor Trumpets – Pam Tanowitz · Robyn Orlin – We Wear Our Wheels with Pride
Splash! A Century of Swimming and Style · Astonishing Things: The Drawings of Victor Hugo · Arpita Singh: Remembering · 2025 Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation Prize · The Craft of Carpentry: Drawing Life from Japan’s Forests · Grayson Perry: Delusions of Grandeur · Edvard Munch: Portraits · Ficre Ghebreyesus · Textiles: The Art of Mankind · Eunjo Lee…
Highsnobiety: Not In London · LFW Pop-Up Shop · 1664 Blanc Activation · Alo Wellness Activations · Dylon Detergent Pop-Up: Rethink New Laundrette · Morocco - Kingdom of Light at LFW · Pandora x Priya Ahluwalia Collection · Rixo Exclusive Event · Grow Hackney · Meanwhile…In Shoreditch · DREST · LFW Solana X HAPE Social X Never Fade Factory · London College of Fashion, UAL · Margaret Howell · Nosakhari: Able-Graphy Exhibition · Nosakhari · NET-A-PORTER…
The Cinnamon Club had completely flown under the radar for me. It is in a pocket of London I rarely visit, and even if I did, the building’s exterior gives little indication of what’s inside. But now that I’ve discovered it, I already have plans to return with my husband - and in my mind, a list of friends I would recommend it to…