Benevolence: Kevin Matthew Wong’s Theatrical Take on Being Hakka-Chinese Canadian

April 8-May 4, 2025
Tarragon Extraspace

Notes by Fête Chinoise Editorial Team

Benevolence is Kevin Matthew Wong’s creative exploration of the Hakka-Chinese experience in Canada, which includes the short documentary Benevolence premiered at the 2023 Reel Asian Film Festival, the art installation Benevolence Hall with Toronto History Museums at The Market Gallery in summer 2024, and now the upcoming theatrical production Benevolence, set to premiere at Tarragon Theatre in April 2025.

Synopsis

Kevin is a theatre creator. Kevin is Hakka (客家)…he thinks.

Out of the blue, he gets a phone call asking him to write a play about Hakka identity. For seniors. In Markham.

From creator and performer Kevin Matthew Wong comes a charming and intimate story that transforms into a layered Chinese-Canadian tale spanning continents, migrations, and generations.

A Tarragon Theatre Production presented in association with Why Not Theatre and Broadleaf Creative.

Cast & Creative

Creator/Writer/Performer & Projection Design: Kevin Matthew Wong
Set & Lighting Design: Echo Zhou
Sound Design: Chris Ross-Ewart
Assistant Sound Designer: Olivia Wheeler
Video Assistant & Editor: Noel Pendawa
Consulting Director: Mike Payette
Dramaturg: Yizhou Zhang
Stage Manager: Tara Mohan
Apprentice Stage Manager: Kayleigh Mundy
Apprentice Consulting Director: Jackson Nair

Runtime is approximately 80 minutes.

Ticketing & Info

*Benevolence* In-progress Sharing in 2023

Kevin Matthew Wong

Kevin is a Hakka Chinese-Canadian theatre creator, dramaturg, facilitator, video artist, and producer. He’s the co-founder and Artistic Director of Broadleaf Creative – a company that produces social justice and climate justice-informed artworks. He’s also the Director of Producing and Creative Associate at Why Not Theatre leading a diverse portfolio of large-scale and touring projects including the world premieres of Mahabharata and What You Won’t Do For Love. Currently he’s the inaugural Jini Stolk Creative Fellow, leading a research project on how large-scale legacy institutions in Canada can better collaborate with BIPOC artists and companies.

Featured

Exploring Identity and Legacy: Kevin Matthew Wong's Benevolence Hall

“Benevolence Hall” is Hakka-Chinese Canadian artist Kevin Matthew Wong’s latest art installation, inviting audiences to reflect on their personal journeys and connections to Canada. Many Canadians have roots in different parts of the world, coming to Canada and making it their new home. This is also true for the Hakka (which translates to “guest families” in Chinese), who have migrated within China and across the globe, including Canada, while respecting the local cultures of their new homes.

Win a pair of tickets to Benevolence

Win a pair of tickets to watch the latest production!
For giveaway details and rules, please refer to Fête Chinoise’s Social Media.

Name

First Name

Last Name

Instagram

Make sure you've followed @fetechinoise to be eligible for this giveaway!

You will be automatically signed up for our e-newsletter.

Show Preference #1

Show Preference #2

FOLLOW @FETECHINOISE

More from Fête Chiniose

Benevolence: Kevin Matthew Wong’s Theatrical Take on Being Hakka-Chinese Canadian

Johnnie To: Master of Hong Kong Cinema 杜琪峯: 香港電影不死

In the pantheon of Hong Kong cinema, Johnnie To Kei-fung stands as a colossus. With a career spanning over five decades, To has evolved from a commercial success to an internationally acclaimed auteur, leaving an indelible mark on the industry alongside contemporaries such as Wong Kar-wai, Tsui Hark, and John Woo.

Philip Yung’s Papa: About time, Oblivion, and Memories《爸爸》

Philip Yung’s 翁子光 Papa《爸爸》arrives in North American cinemas on March 14. Inspired by a real 2010 case in Hong Kong, the film follows a father grappling with unimaginable loss after his son, who suffers from schizophrenia, kills his wife and daughter. Sean Lau delivers a career-defining performance, capturing the depths of a father’s sorrow and resilience.

Carried by the River, a New Original Play by Diana Tso + Directed by William Yong, is Coming to Tarragon

Carried by the River, an original play by Diana Tso 曹楓, is a transformative journey about Kai, a young Asian woman raised in Canada, who uncovers a life-altering truth after her mother’s passing and embarks on a trip to China. The production, which touches on themes of memory and and identity, features performances by Shiong-en Chan, emerging dancer Tai Wei Foo 符岱微, and music by Alice Ping Yee Ho 何冰頤. Directed and choreographed by William Yong 楊漢源, the play will be staged at Tarragon Extraspace from March 8 to 23, 2025.

Transcending Boundaries: The Visionary Artistry of William Yong 楊漢源: 舞出新視野

In the rarefied realm of Canadian dance, few artists have forged as unconventional and boundary-obliterating a path as William Yong. The award-winning Chinese-Canadian choreographer and multimedia artist, who immigrated from Hong Kong to Toronto in the 1990s to reunite with his family after a decade in London, has melded his multicultural roots with an unbridled creative spirit, pioneering daringly innovative, interdisciplinary works that shatter artistic conventions. From his early experimental films and productions merging dance with technology to touring the world as an in-demand performer, Yong has continually pushed the limits of dance expression.

Diaspora Storytelling: The Homecoming of Fresh Off Markham《敗走麥城》

Fresh Off Markham is a film that weaves together stories of immigration, identity, and community in a way that feels deeply personal to Chinese Canadians in Toronto and Markham. This debut feature by three Hong Kong-born directors—shot locally in Markham, Richmond Hill, and Scarborough—is a heartfelt tribute to the Chinese diaspora and their experiences in Canada.

Rags 2 Richmond: A Musical Tribute to Talent, Dreams, and Richmond’s Unique Cultural Scene

Rags 2 Richmond has quickly captured the hearts and attention of audiences since its December 2024 launch. This digital short series blends early 2000s hip-hop, R&B, and Asian pop culture, offering a uniquely Canadian perspective set in Richmond, BC. The show follows ambitious musicians and a controversial beauty pageant, featuring an all-star cast including Jonathan Wong, Peter Sudarso, Nancy Sit, and 2024 Miss Chinese International Pageant contestants.

The Last Dance《破•地獄》: Hong Kong's Unique Take on Life, Death, and Tradition

In her debut feature, screenwriter Ho Miu Ki masterfully explores the complexities of human connection in Love Lies—a poignant blend of drama and comedy. The film follows the intertwined lives of two very different people, brought together by an online scam, and speaks to anyone who has faced the challenges of love and relationships in the modern world. It also delves into the loneliness that often comes with navigating life in a digital age.

Love Lies《我談的那場戀愛》: Navigating Real Connections in a Digital World

BIG: Wei Te-Sheng’s Heartfelt Journey of Life and Courage Premieres in Canada

Legendary Taiwanese director Wei Te-Sheng brings his acclaimed film BIG to Canada, premiering on November 1, 2024. Known for his blockbuster Cape No. 7, Wei Te-Sheng explores life’s complexities through laughter and tears, highlighting the profound value of living within a hospital. The film blends live-action and animation, featuring the work of Takumi Tanji, the acclaimed animator and art director behind Your Name and Suzume. This heartfelt narrative captures the voices of children navigating life changes alongside their families and fellow patients, conveying joy and sorrow throughout the journey while celebrating the courage to fight until the end.

Salesman in China Review: A Powerful Cross-Cultural Experience

The soft ting-ting of a bicycle bell echoes through Avon Theatre as a nostalgically dressed paper boy glides down onto the stage, bring the audience to the bustling backstage of Beijing’s People's Art Theatre, offering a first-person view through the eyes of American playwright Arthur Miller, who traveled to Beijing in 1983 to direct the Chinese adaptation of his renowned play, Death of a Salesman.

Barbara K. Lee's Latest Documentary Sing My Song Explores the Absence of Asian Pop Stars in North America

In Sing My Song, Barbara K. Lee explores why there are no Asian pop stars in North America. Through her journey as a songwriter and interviews with artists like Far East Movement, she uncovers the challenges faced by Asian musicians and their struggle for mainstream recognition.