Silk Bath Collective

Silk Bath Collective A Toronto-based theatre collective founded in 2015 by Bessie Cheng, Aaron Jan and Gloria Mok.

The collective first met as members of fu-GEN Asian Canadian Theatre Company's “Kitchen” Playwriting Unit in 2015. It was here where the three developed a great respect for each other’s writing styles and found a shared passion for telling stories rooted in the Chinese Canadian experience. In 2016, the three artists joined forces to collectively write and produce SILK BATH as one of the Toronto Fringe Festival’s Culturally Diverse Artist Projects (CDAP). SILK BATH is a ruthless, satirical, physical exploration of what it means to be accepted by society, after the citizenship paperwork is signed. SILK BATH deeply resonated with an audience often excluded from Canadian stages and made history as the Toronto Fringe’s first trilingual play (Mandarin, Cantonese, and English). SILK BATH was remounted at the 2017 Next Stage Festival to critical and commercial success. In 2017, Silk Bath Collective was invited by Tarragon Theatre to join the company’s Workspace program, a residency designed for companies workshopping new or existing work. The Tarragon Workspace residency culminated in the creation of a new play, YELLOW RABBIT, which explored isolationism and racial hierarchy within Chinese culture. YELLOW RABBIT was presented by Soulpepper Theatre Company in November 2018, which played to sold-out audiences and marked the collective’s first independent production outside of a festival setting.

Audition for 2027 National tour of Woking Phoenix for the role of Ma. WOKING PHOENIXWritten and Directed by Silk Bath Co...
08/13/2026

Audition for 2027 National tour of Woking Phoenix for the role of Ma.

WOKING PHOENIX

Written and Directed by Silk Bath Collective (Bessie Cheng, Aaron Jan and Gloria Mok)

Presented by Gateway Theatre and two unannounced theatres in partnership with Theatre Passe Muraille

Storyline:
An epic exploration of two decades of a family’s survival. Woking Phoenix tells the story of three siblings, their mother, and their restaurant as they seek to find belonging within small-town Ontario. An intergenerational Chinese love story about creating community and the food that reminds us of home.

Submission Dates:
Please submit a headshot and CV with the subject “WOKING PHOENIX TOUR AUDITION” as the title to [email protected] by August 23 2027.

AUDITION DATE:
September 2nd 2026.

Location: In person in Toronto (location will be given in the confirmation email)

Important Dates:

We are looking for actors who are ideally able to commit to the full tour (or a minimum of two stops if there are scheduling conflicts)

February 16 - March 5, 2027: Rehearsal in Toronto, ON
March 6, 2027: Travel day to Richmond, BC
March 8 - March 11, 2027: Technical Rehearsals at Gateway Theatre in Richmond, BC
March 11 - March 20, 2027: 12 Performances at Gateway Theatre in Richmond, BC
March 21, 2027: Fly back home

May 10 - May 16, 2027: Refresher Rehearsals in Toronto, ON
May 18, 2027: Travel day to Unannounced Stop in Ontario
May 19-21 2027: Technical Rehearsals
May 21 - June 5, 2027: 18 performances
June 6, 2027: Travel Day home

September 7 - September 12, 2027: Refresher rehearsals in Toronto, ON
September 14, 2027: Travel day to Unannounced Stop in Ontario
September 15 - 16, 2027: Technical rehearsal in Unannounced Stop in Ontario
September 17 - October 9, 2027: 27 Performances at Unannounced Stop
October 10, 2027: Travel Day Home

Union Contract:
CAEA (CTA)

Character Breakdown:
Ma: (35+), fluent mandarin speaker who ages 20 years during the show. The beating heart of the Woking Phoenix, a small town Chinese restaurant in Northern Ontario. A feisty dreamer, who wants the best for her three children after she moves to Canada to build a new life for her family. Quick witted and giver of tough love, but has a well of unspoken and undying affection for her children. Strong mover (dance experience is not necessary, but the performer should have a facility and comfortability with movement and choreography).

The AUDITION:
While we are excited to receive all submissions, only those selected will be seen.

We’ll send sides, a location and timeslot for the audition. There will also be a movement component to the audition where choreographer Hanna Kiel will work with each auditioner.

Thanks so much and looking forward to hearing back from you,
Bessie Cheng, Aaron Jan and Gloria Mok

Photo of the original 2024 Theatre Passe Muraille/Silk Bath Collective Production of Woking Phoenix by Jae Yang. Set and Costumes by Julia Kim. Lighting by Noah Feaver. Actors in Photo: Phoebe Hu, Richard Lam, Bessie Cheng and Madelaine Hodges.

Address

Toronto, ON

Website

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