Kookie owes everything to Kousin. Her name, her new life in Canada, her education, and all her fondest childhood memories. Kookie with a K is a snippet into Kookie’s life as she ponders how she could repay her loved ones without asking for help anymore. Her life is quite stressful and plain spending most of her hours cooking in a kitchen trying to make rent. Is asking for help from the people you left in the past, the same as undoing growth? Leaving felt like such an accomplishment for her so what does going back mean?
Peihwen J Tai~ Actor
Ashley Chodat~Dramaturg
Sargil Tongol~Director
Maheem Bista~Writer
Peihwen J. Tai
Pehwen J Tai is a Taiwanese/Canadian performer and writer. This year, she participated in What Lab’s artist residency and The Parallel Project at The Cultch. She also graduated from UBC with a double-major BFA in Theatre Acting and Japanese. Recently, when she’s not having an existential crisis, she is watching anime, crocheting, or thinking about her play-to-be Moth Boy, about a boy who metamorphoses into a silkworm moth after becoming catatonically depressed. Peihwen wishes to thank her great friend Maheem for inviting her into the world of Kookie and for her family and partner for their love.
Ashley Chodat
Ashley Chodat (she/her) is a playwright, dramaturg, director and teaching artist. Her work centres girlhood, science fiction and intergenerational relationships. Recent playwright credits include: June Bug (UpintheAir’s rEvolver Festival, Vancouver Fringe, Victoria Fringe) FRANK (Intrepid Theatre’s Incoming Fest/Impulse Theatre Peek Show 14) Mother Pin (Or Festival) Select Teaching: Bard on the Beach, Arts Club, Carousel Theatre, Arts Umbrella, Theatre SKAM. She currently holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Applied Theatre from Uvic and a Diploma in Theatre Performance from Douglas College. Be kind and have dance parties! @ashley.chodat @ragamuffinproduction
Sargil (he/him) Director
Sargil Tongol (he/him) is a multidisciplinary artist from Surrey, B.C. As an educator, director and performer, Sargil’s work revolves around allowing different perspectives to be seen on stage and exploring the outlandish while still finding the heart in a piece. Recent credits include: Maggie (Or Festival), Head Over Heels (Co-Director, UBC Player’s Club), June Bug (Director, Ragamuffin Productions), Oz (Assistant Director, Carousel Theatre for Young People). He holds a Bachelor of Education, and a Bachelor of Arts Majoring in Theatre Studies and Minor in History both from UBC, and holds a Diploma from Douglas College in Theatre Performance.
Maheem Bista – Playwright
Maheem Bista is a Nepalese student in Canada. He’s very grateful for opportunities in creative spaces like this. He’d like to thank Up in The Air and the team members in Kookie for taking a chance on him : )
Venue
Greenhouse Studio
35 minutes
Local - Vancouver, BC
- June 1 @ 2:45 pm Talkback
Ticketing note
Updraft Readings are free, donations encouraged. Reservations are required to secure seats the reading. Walk-ups are welcome but seating is limited.
100% of donations received are paid directly to the artists
Festival Venue
The Cultch, 1895 Venables Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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