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

March 8-23, 2025
Tarragon Extraspace

Poster image photographed by Jason George

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.

Poster image photographed by Jason George

Synopsis

“A journey to uncover roots where truths ripple like a river.”

“Carried by the River” is a poignant and visually stunning original play by Diana Tso, directed by William Yong. Kai, a young Asian woman raised in Canada, discovers a life-altering truth on her nineteenth birthday when her mother passes away—she was adopted. Haunted by the fables of forests and rivers her mother once shared, Kai embarks on a transformative journey to China. Through this journey, Kai navigates grief, relationships and life’s deeper truths. This lyrical tale intertwines myth, memory, and identity, inviting audiences into an evocative world where the lines between reality and the imagined blur.

Preview Performances: March 8–9, 2025
Opening Night: March 11, 2025
Matinees & Evening Performances: March 12–23, 2025
Post-Show Talkbacks on Sundays (excluding Previews) and Thursdays

Cast & Creative

Cast: Shiong-En Chan, Tai Wei Foo 符岱微, Brenda Kamino, Honey Pham, Michelle Wang

Director: William Yong 楊漢源

Playwright: Diana Tso 曹楓

Composer: Alice Ping Yee Ho 何冰頤

Lighting Designer: Andre du Toit

Scenic and Costume Designer: Ting-Huan 挺歡, Christine Urquhart

Choreographer: William Yong 楊漢源

Stage Manager: Sabrina Weinstein

Production Manager/Technical Director: Barney Bayliss

Director William Yong 楊漢源

William Yong is a multi-faceted artist and an award-winning choreographer, performer and director for dance, theatre and film. Artistic Director of Zata Omm and W Zento Productions, William has dedicated over two decades to breaking new ground by collaborating with artists, scientists, and engineers in visionary, technology-driven performance projects. William’s artistic journey began with music as a member of the Hong Kong Children’s Choir and as the lead singer and songwriter for the band Fundamental in Asia. Trained at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts and London Contemporary Dance School in UK. He worked with some of the world’s most influential choreographers including Wayne McGregor and Matthew Bourne. His passion for the arts expanded into an illustrious 30-year career. William has created over 150 acclaimed dance, theatre and film works. In 2024, he became the first Asian choreographer commissioned by the National Ballet of Canada for UtopiVerse, performed at Toronto’s prestigious Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.

Playwright Diana Tso 曹楓

Diana Tso is a theatre artist, playwright, storyteller, and Dora award winning actor. She graduated from the University of Toronto in English Literature and of Ecole Internationale de Théâtre de Jacques Lecoq in France. She’s worked with diverse theatres internationally for over 25 years. Performances include: Modern Times Stage Company’s The Cherry Orchard, Theatre Smith-Gilmour’s Les Misérables and at the 2017 Stratford Festival in Bakkhai and The Komagata Maru Incident. Upcoming 2026: performing in Theatre Smith-Gilmour’s ensemble of Pu Songling: strange stories from a Chinese Studio.
As an artistic director of Red Snow Collective, her productions focus on empowering the voices of women. Her plays, Red Snow (2012) and Comfort (2016) bring to light the resilience of women in war and her Monkey Queen stories re-imagine mythologies from the female perspective.

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