we the same (by Sangeeta Wylie) Book Launch

Inspired by a true story, we the same opens in 1979 Việt Nam, where six children and a mother become separated from their father and husband as they flee their homeland by boat. Against all odds, they survive pirate attacks, typhoons, and starvation, ending up shipwrecked on a desert island. Thirty-five years pass, and the mother at last shares heartfelt secrets and an unbelievable story with her daughter ... allowing the past to be escorted into the present.

Oscillating between humour, romance, and devastation, this powerful debut play explores the aftermath of the Vietnam War from a Vietnamese perspective. Its central threads tell of intergenerational healing, alienation and estrangement from peers, family relationships, and hope overcoming adversity.

A book launch with live readings, music, food, and panel discussion, featuring the playwright/author Sangeeta Wylie and friends. Actors Elizabeth Thai, Nhi Do and Chris Lam will read excerpts from the play and participate in a panel discussion with Syrian advocate/refugee Hamoudi Saleh Baratta about their refugee experience and identity, and their journeys to freedom and success. Vi An Diep will perform her original compositions on the đàn tranh. 

This program is co-presented by Talonbooks and Pacific Canada Heritage Centre - Museum of Migration (PCHC - MoM) Society. Special thanks to Flavours of Hope and Do Chay for the delicious catering, and to Talonbooks, Andrew Wylie, and Sangeeta Wylie for their generous sponsorship. 

 

This program is English only.

 

Sangeeta Wylie - Author

Sangeeta Wylie is a Vancouver-based actor and writer, with several credits in film, television and theatre. She worked with Oscar-nominated Deepa Mehta (Beeba Boys), who called her ‘exceptionally talented, genuine and fearless”. Her first full-length play, "we the same", premiered at The Cultch, 2021. It received 6 Jessie Award nominations (winning 2), and is part of University of Victoria’s Theatre curriculum. Sangeeta has written with playwrights labs/theatres across Canada. She volunteers with multiple organizations in arts and health care.

Facebook Book Page

 

Vi An - Composer

Vi An is a world music instrumental artist. She specializes in original and intuitive music for Asian long-plucked zither instruments from Vietnam (17 - 26 stringed đàn tranh), Japan (13 stringed koto) and from China (24 - 30 stringed zheng). Self taught since the age of 6 in Calgary, then a vibrant career in music unfolded by age 10. Independently released many solo, and collaborative albums, and continually co-creating with Theatre, dance, film and video games productions domestically and internationally. Vi An was the featured composer and instrumental artist on Vietnamese đàn tranh in the production of we the same by Sangeeta Wylie, with its world premiere (Nov.3-7 2021) at The Cultch (YVR).

Website

 

Chris Lam - Actor

Christopher Lam 林子榮 is a director/actor/ and playwright who is based on unceded and ancestral territory of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations.

As director some of his work includes Canadian premieres of Stiles and Drewe’s 3 Little Pigs (Carousel Theatre); The Nether (Firehall Arts Centre); Girlfriend (Fighting Chance Productions); Amélie (West Moon Theatre); world premieres of How to Believe in Anything (Dreamphase Productions); Big Queer Filipino Karaoke Night! (Revolver Festival); and Frankenstein: Lost in Darkness (Pacific Theatre) to name a few. He was the assistant director on the new translation of Grand Magic directed by Antoni Cimolino at the Stratford Festival.

His acting credits include A Prayer for Owen Meany (Ensemble Theatre Company) and 100 Saints You Should Know (Pacific Theatre) both of which he was nominated for the Jessie Awards for best performance for an actor in leading and supporting actor roles and originated the role of Bao in We The Same (Ruby Slippers Theatre).

He is a graduate of Douglas College in Fine Arts and Capilano University in Performance Studies. He is also the recipient of the Ray Michal Award for an Emerging Director, Jean Gascon Award for direction, Ovation Award and CTC for best direction. 

Website

 

Elizabeth Thai - Actor

Elizabeth Thai has enjoyed a multi-decades long career as an actor. Her official acting training began when she moved from Prince Edward Island to British Columbia to pursue acting studies at Simon Fraser University, and later at Studio 58. She has performed steadily in the film and television industry for the last two decades, and now more recently on the stage, creating roles that have landed her Leo and Jessie nominations.

Her involvement in this play in particular, we the same, holds a very profound personal significance for her. It mirrors her own life story of her arrival in Canada as a refugee in 1981, alongside her family. This project has allowed her to give tribute to her roots and share her own lived experience as a "boat person" through the character of Ha.

 

Hamoudi Saleh Baratta - Refugee/advocate

Hamoudi Saleh Baratta, formerly known as Mohammed Alsaleh, is an international speaker and an award-winning advocate. A former Syrian refugee, he brings to the spotlight the voice of millions of people going through the hardships he experienced first-hand. As a two-time TEDx speaker, he's an active advocate for refugee livelihood and well-being. A recipient of the 2018 RBC Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Award, he has been recognized by the likes of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Hollywood Actor and Activist George Takei. From Syria to Canada, his journey was famously featured in the documentary "Welcome to Canada".

 

This program is part of Vancouver TAIWANfest