Toronto’s fu-GEN presents Walk the Walk Festival

header fu-GEN Torontofu-Gen Walk the Walk is a festival that is long overdue; one dedicated to the work of Asian Canadian women, all directed by women of colour. It’s a week-long festival that presents staged readings and workshop presentations of four new works-in-development from creators across Canada, partnering with six Canadian theatres who share a vision of a more inclusive theatrical landscape. Work by Mieko Ouchi (Edmonton), Marjorie Chan (Toronto), Sophie Gee (Montreal) and Natalie Gan (Vancouver) is supported by Workshop West and the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, The Shaw Festival, Factory Theatre, Theatre NorthWest and Hong Kong Exile. All events take place at Factory Studio Theatre at 8PM each night.

The week also features masterclasses, lectures, a panel discussion moderated by the coolest person in the world, Dr. Shanti Ganesh, a performance cabaret night and our always anticipated annual Potluck Festival. This year’s Potluck Festival features the work of fu-GEN’s KXIII creators unit, comprised of emerging Asian Canadian women and facilitated by the ubiquitous (for good reason) Mel Hague. The KXIII creators are: Lisa Li, Gloria Mok, Diana Reyes and Christina Wong.

During the festival fu-GEN’s will launch The 49: a top secret project that has been quietly brewing for the last year. What is it? Show up to the panel discussion on June 15th to find out.

All festival events are FREE (with the exception of the performance cabaret, which will cost you cash money but is super affordable and totally worth it) with tickets required. Tickets for all events are available as of June 2nd at www.factorytheatre.ca/tickets/

For more information about the festival please visit www.fu-gen.org

A brief list of events is below.

Monday, June 13 – Burning Mom 

By Mieko Ouchi (Edmonton)
Direction by Diana Belshaw (Toronto)
Presented in partnership with the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre and Workshop West

A retired suburban Calgary housewife and mother tragically loses her partner after 45 years together. So what does she do? The only thing that makes any sense at all.

She goes to Burning Man.

Tuesday, June 14 – Chinoiserie

By Marjorie Chan (Toronto)
Direction by Tara Beagan (Toronto)
Presented in partnership with The Shaw Festival

In America’s mid-west in the late 19th C., a Chinese painter arrives at the home of Reverend James and his wife, to recreate the chinoiserie wallpaper from the Reverend’s childhood home. But things are not what they seem, and an affair begins that threatens to uncover the house’s hidden layers.

Wednesday, June 15 – Panel: Nostalgia and Colonization

Moderated by: Dr. Shanti Ganesh (Netherlands)

Join Dr. Shanti Ganesh (cognitive psychologist / neuroscientist / artist) for an eye opening discussion about nostalgia, intersectionality, tokenism and the ongoing process of decolonization.

Also, this evening will be the long anticipated launch of our top secret project, The 49. What is The 49? You’ll have to come and find out.

Thursday, June 16 – Da Jia (Big House/Everyone)

By Sophie Gee (Montreal)
Direction by Nina Lee Aquino (Toronto)
Presented in partnership with Factory Theatre

A contemporary, Asian Canadian meditation on Arthur Miller’s classic All My Sons. During Chinese New Year, a young Chinese Canadian man tries to reconcile his guilt over the deadly collapse of his father’s garment factory in China with the comfortable life the business has given him.

(In English, Mandarin and Cantonese with surtitles)

Friday, June 17 – Chinese Vaginies

A performance installation by Natalie Gan (Vancouver)
Direction by Clare Yow (Vancouver)
Presented in partnership with Theatre NorthWest and Hong Kong Exile

Soft and fluffy. Moist to the touch. Versatile and unique in shape. Quickly steam, and stuff with a filling of your choice. These tender pockets are now ready to be served! Chinese Vaginies is a playful choreography that considers the interconnected issues of food, labour, race, and violence on the female body.

Saturday, June 18 – Performance Cabaret

Tickets $15 in advance | $20 at the door

Music, dance and spoken word collide in a cabaret that celebrates Asian Canadian Women and their art. Performers include: HATAW, Janice Lee, Sampradaya Dance, Maddie Bautista, Ming-Bo Lam and more.

Sunday, June 19 – Potluck Festival XIII

This year, facilitated by Mel Hague, KXIII is presenting works created by four young, emerging Asian Canadian creators: Lisa Li, Gloria Mok, Diana Reyes and Christina Wong. The Potluck Festival is a mini-festival of excerpted work from the unit, directed by professional artists and featuring the newest talent in Toronto theatre.

All events begin at 8PM at Factory Studio Theatre

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