You’ll get more than you bargained for at Mr. Kim’s downtown Toronto convenience store. Along with his enormous variety of groceries and knick-knacks, he dispenses amusing folk wisdom, quizzical Korean trivia, and a peculiar type of pride. The hilarity and the business may be short lived if a big box store invades the neighbourhood, his daughter rejects the family shop, and his prodigal son returns. Is there a future for Kim’s Convenience?

Kim’s Convenience debuted at the 2011 Toronto Fringe Festival, where it won the Best New Play award. Written by celebrated Canadian actor, playwright, and poet Ins Choi, he also directed the play and acted the part of Jung in the debut production. The play has been produced all over North America to outstanding reviews. It has since become a ground-breaking CBC TV series which you can also catch on Netflix. As one review of an earlier production of this play states: “the comedy is funny, and the emotions genuine, and at its best, the play combines the two”.

Delivering amusing folk wisdom, quizzical Korean trivia, and touching on themes of immigrant experience, change, and generational conflict, Kim’s Convenience is as poignant as it is humorous. It breaks through boundaries and explores some universal truths in a way that brings the powerful combination of both laughter and learning to the audience.

Appa and Umma speak to each other in Korean, treating one another with tenderness and humour as they lead their little family toward the future while forgiving the past. Janet and Jung speak English, asserting themselves with the sharp wit of youth who identify with two cultures. What comes of it all are hysterically funny jokes and comedic situations which help the audience to more comfortably question our assumptions of stereotypes, immigrant experience and family conflict.

Bringing the hilarity to life for this production of Kim’s Convenience are: James (Jimmy) Yi as the fiery and proud Appa; Susan Hanson bringing quiet warmth to the role of Umma; Agnes Tong playing artistic daughter Janet; John Han brings poignancy and laughs as prodigal son Jung, and Michael Clarke plays the amusing array of minor characters.

Rounding out the creative team for this socially relevant satire are Director Mark DuMez, Set Designer Craig Alfredson with Associate Set Designer Coralee Draginda, Costume Designer Michelle Lieffertz, Sound Designer John Han, and Stage Manager Lois Dawson. Matinee and evening shows for all ages run April 27 to May 26.

To purchase tickets call our friendly box office at (250) 246-9820 or our easy-to-use online box office.

From February 9 to March 10, visit Chemainus Theatre Festival and see the winner of 8 2012 Tony Awards® including Best Musical.

Emotionally captivating and theatrically breathtaking, Once draws you in from the very first note and never lets go. It’s an unforgettable story about going for your dreams and the power of music to connect us all.

Once is a story built on chance meetings and the connections that can form through the people who come into our lives unexpectedly. As an audience member the experience begins from the second you walk into the theatre. Instead of taking your seats and perusing the program as usual, you connect with the show and the cast right away – the stage is built to extend out into the audience, breaking down that invisible fourth wall that is so often experienced in live theatre. There is a bar set up on stage, not merely a set piece of an Irish Pub, but a functional bar where audience members can purchase a pre-show beer or glass of wine to enjoy on stage while the cast comes out and has a music session! This is as close to an authentic, energetic Irish pub experience you will get this side of the Atlantic Ocean.

The audience sits down, already knowing from that first experience that this will be a special play. All the elements weave together through the lighting, the set, and the music bringing you into the lives of the characters and connecting your heart to them. Although the plot of Once takes place over a period of less than a week we see through the characters how those who we only know for a short time can change us forever. One of the beautiful things about this show is that the musicians are also the actors, always on stage, providing a rich, orchestral sound in an informal, personal way. The songs are unbelievably beautiful and integral to the plot and the feeling of the show. The music is almost a character all its own, a blend classic, folk, rock, Eastern, and Irish music – a truly soul-filling sound.

Chemainus Theatre Festival is proud of Once and the reviews have been positive. New for 2018 in addition to a variety of buffet options, Fridays nights are now featuring a ‘Table d’Hôte’ experience, having a selection of plated entrees while still experiencing the buffet salad and dessert. Delicious food and you can choose what suits you best. We can’t wait to welcome you in.

Helpful Links

• YouTube Video Preview of Once
• Review from Chemainus Valley Courier
• Review from Janis La Couvée

Season tickets for Chemainus Theatre Festival have never been a better idea! With a subscription or Flex Pass, you can fill your year with theatre in the best way to suit your busy lifestyle. With so many people looking to create simpler lifestyles and choosing experiences over material purchases theatre will allow you to laugh, love and learn with people you love. With shows like Once, Little Women, Grease and Kim’s Convenience it will be hard to pick just one person to bring along – additional tickets can be purchased on top of your season ticket package with a 15% discount.

If a whole season package isn’t feasible for you this year, smaller packages of tickets offer a lot of flexibility and you can choose your ideal times, shows that inspire you, and dates that fit around your yearly calendar. Try out a 4 or 5 season package; you will have the first opportunity to purchase a package next year. Select your show to suit your tastes – Chemainus Theatre Festival always tries to appeal to a variety of audiences. If you are a musical buff or can’t resist a tear-jerker we encourage you to try one new show in your package you might not have bought tickets for before. Silent Sky was a lesser-known show last year and we heard more than once that it was the best thing Chemainus Theatre Festival has ever done – try something new!

However you like to purchase your tickets, we work hard to meet you your needs. New this year, patrons can order season tickets by filling out the online form on our website and pay their balance online. Our team is here to support you as needed. Our

Box Office Manager, Andrea, has a few tips for you:

• With a season subscription, patrons don’t have to book their dates and seats when they buy their package. They can book throughout the year if they wish, keeping in mind that seating choice is based on availability. We always recommend booking early to get the best seats.
• If they DO want to book all of their dates, then having your first choice and alternative choices for dates and seats is helpful and will speed up the booking process.
• If they are not familiar with the seating plan in our theatre, the box office staff are happy to assist with selecting seats for them as we know the theatre very well.

Chemainus Theatre is a fully professional theatre. Your patronage ensures the continuation of live theatre on Vancouver Island for future generations. You support not only the production team, actors, musicians and all the talented people who provide the quality you’ve come to expect but great incentives like our education program which fosters the love of theatre for young people. However you come to see us, we hope you are inspired and entertained by the great line of plays we have for you to come enjoy at Chemainus Theatre Festival!