Date: Friday, February 28, 2020
Time: 7 PM
Venue: PWM Studio, 7250 Clark St Suite 103, Montreal, QC H2R 2Y3
Please note that Playwrights’ Workshop Montréal is not located in a fully accessible building. Our space is located above street level and is only accessible via a flight of stairs (nine steps). More info here.
This is a FREE event. Donations are welcome at the door.
Don’t forget to RSVP, seating is limited.
Synopsis
Mizushōbai (The Water Trade) explores the life of Kiyoko Tanaka-Goto, a Japanese picture-bride turned ‘underground’ business woman in 1930’s British Columbia. It delves into her history, not as a clichéd dragon-lady madam (although at times, perhaps she is), nor as a dutiful daughter (although at times, perhaps she is), nor as a submissive and sexualized female Asian body (although at times, perhaps she is), but as a valuable member of Canadian society who had to fight against expectation, and for autonomy and recognition every step of the way.
“What fascinates me about Kiyoko is that she broke EVERY SINGLE RULE and expectation of culture, gender and society.”
Mizushōbai (The Water Trade) was developed with Playwrights’ Workshop Montréal through a variety of programs, including the Gros Morne Playwrights’ Residency and the EstérELLE Writers-in-Residence.
Mizushōbai (The Water Trade) was the recipient of Tableau D’Hôte Theatre’s inaugural More than a footnote commission, and received financial support from the Cole Foundation and the Canada Council for the Arts.
Content Warning
Sexual References, Mature Language
About the Playwright
Julie Tamiko Manning is an award-winning Montreal actor and theatre creator.
Selected acting credits include: Sin in Paradise Lost (Centaur), Annie in Jean Dit (Théâtre D’Aujourd’hui), and Elena in Butcher (Centaur).
Her first play, Mixie and the Halfbreeds (with Adrienne Wong), is a play about mixed identity in multiple universes, first commissioned as a radio play by CBC, then adapted for the stage for Neworld Theatre in Vancouver. Her second play, The Tashme Project: The Living Archives (with Matt Miwa) is a one act verbatim play about the Japanese Canadian internment camps during WW2, which recently toured to Montreal (Centaur), Toronto (Factory), Vancouver (Firehall) and Ottawa (Prismatic Arts Festival/GCTC).
Creative Team
This play is currently in development.
Play by Julie Tamiko Manning
Dramaturged by Emma Tibaldo
Featuring Deena Aziz, Brenda Kamino, Kyungseo Min, Mahalia Golnosh Tahririha, Annie Yao
