Fil-Canadian play in Vancouver celebrates Filipinx women’s journey to self-discovery
Photo from Kamila Sediego/Instagram
Feeling detached from your Filipino roots while abroad? The new play, “Homecoming,” will infuse you with the spirit of belonging and cultural familiarity.
This new theatrical gem set to be showcased at Vancouver Historic Theatre from May 2 to 12 invites audiences to be transported into the Filipino characters’ dreams and realities.
Run by The Cultch and Urban Ink, this play delves into the lives of three generations of Filipino women tethered by dreams, heritage and the quest for home.
“Homecoming,” part of The Cultch’s seventh annual Femme Festival, is a portal to the past, present and future of Filipinx identities.
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This Fil-Canadian play is a powerful narrative woven by Kamila Sediego, a first-generation Filipinx-Canadian playwright with works championing the voices of IBPOC (indigenous peoples, black peoples and peoples of color) groups.
The plot arcs over three menages — the grandmother, two daughters and granddaughter — each embarking on their own paths through the landscapes of identity and memory.
With the eldest daughter staying in the Philippines, she anchors herself in familial duties and norms while the younger one explores Canada, thriving with her evolving identity against the backdrop of her Filipino roots.
A cultural weave of homecoming
What does home mean for those who’ve crossed countries? “Homecoming” finds answers as it balances humor with the thematic gravity of its scenes.
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Sediego’s script weaves laughter with magic, transforming a family’s narrative into a universal discovery of belonging and cultural identity.
Whether it’s through the nostalgic croons of “Bahay Kubo” intertwined with the play’s sound design or the sumptuous flavors of Filipino food, “Homecoming” forges a sensory feast that transcends borders.
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An all-Filipino cast
Produced by Urban Ink and directed by Hazel Venzon, the Fil-Canadian play features a creative team composed mostly of Filipinos — including an all-Filipino ensemble and direction.
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Crafted to resonate with the viewers, Sediego’s sentiment runs through every dialogue and scene. “While the show is very culturally specific at the core, it is still about belonging, understanding and finding belonging,” she shares with Stir.
“Homecoming” is rooted in Sediego’s longing to connect with her heritage. Reflecting on her family’s roots and her mother’s return to the Philippines after decades, she infuses her narrative with passion and authenticity.
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Starting way back in 2014, her decade-long journey of curating “Homecoming” is proof of the transformative force of storytelling.
Now that it has come to life and ready to grace the Vancouver stage, Sediego captures the surreal moment on her Instagram. Seeing the play’s poster displayed at a bus stop, she expressed her marvel with the caption, “That this bus stop ad is a 5-minute walk from my childhood home is WILD!
Finding fulfillment in crafting stories with reflections on her Filipinx heritage, her next project, “Engkanto,” narrates a story of a parent and a child coming face to face with mythical creatures from Filipinx folktales.
Audiences who want to ponder on the essence of home can get their tickets at thecultch.com.
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