Jade Circle

By Jasmine Chen
A Part of the Mother Tongue Project
A rice and beans theatre production in association with Neworld Theatre

Through powerful music, captivating movement, and poignant storytelling in Mandarin and English, Jade Circle 玉環 follows Jasmine, a second-generation Canadian, who has lost her mother tongue through cultural assimilation.

Yearning to reconnect with her late grandmother, Jasmine embarks on a transformative journey to relearn Mandarin and unearth lost stories of her grandmother’s past through intimate interviews with her mother.

Layering live singing and evocative sound design with original artwork and projection design, we witness Jasmine as she finds her place within the legacy of cross-generation matrilineal relationships.

“In the days and weeks after her passing, I found myself recalling these short fragments of children’s songs that she had taught me when I was a kid… And I could only remember these little fragments, which brought up a lot of loss for me in terms of realizing that I never really got a chance to know her because of the language barrier.” – Jasmine Chen

“A feast for the senses” – VancouverPlays Review

Pay-What-You-Will Preview

The first performance on Wed, May 20 is a Pay-What-You-Will Preview. Tickets are priced at $15, $25, and $35. 

Please note that the Pay-What-You-Will Preview on Wed, May 20 is excluded from the Play Series Subscription and Create-Your-Own Series offer.

Runtime

45 mins, followed by a post-show conversation

Language

The show is performed in both Mandarin and English, with projected English subtitles.

Creative and Production Team

Playwright & Performer – Jasmine Chen
Director – Derek Chan
Translator and Cultural Consultant – Johnny Wu
Set/Props/Costume Designer – Julia Kim
Video Designer – Daniel O’Shea
Sound Designers – Sapphire Haze
Lighting Designer – Jonathan Kim
Visual Artist – Jessica Chen
Assistant Director – Katie Voravong