Who we are

  • fu-GEN is a charitable theatre company dedicated to the development of professional Asian Canadian theatre artists through the production of new and established works.

    Charitable Registration Number: 87467 0300 RR0001

    • To produce works of Asian North American playwrights, and foster new works by emerging playwrights.

    • To explore and address issues of Asian North American’s societal roles, responsibilities and identity in the past, present and future through our artistic endeavors.

    • To build a stronger, intercultural Canadian community by breaking down stereotypes through education and development of a strong cultural artistic base.

  • We serve the Asian Canadian theatre artist

    • We are dedicated to exploring the underlying Asian Canadian story

    • We believe in diversity of practice: using non-traditional space, time, methodology & philosophy

    • We are evolving with our artists

“Our goal was always in future tense. It was about the community. It was never around one product or artist, not for us, but for the
future GENeration.”

David Yee, Intermission Magazine, 2024

Accomplishments in brief:

  • The longest running professional Asian Canadian theatre company in Canada.

  • Received 22 Dora Mavor Moore Award nominations.

  • Produced the first-ever International Conference & Festival on Asian Canadian Theatre, GENesis, in 2010. In 2022, for fu-GEN’s 20th anniversary, we revisited the conference with hubs in Singapore, New York City, Vancouver, Toronto, and Online.

  • Ongoing residency and development programs, which have supported hundreds of emerging creators in 20 years.

  • Produced the 49, a list of plays by women of colour that can be produced tomorrow.

  • Regularly advocates for and supports the work of artists of colour in all disciplines.

Over the last 20 years,
we have:

Spearheaded 20 projects that challenge form

Garnered 22 Dora Mavor Moore Award nominations

Developed 280 new Asian Canadian works

Engaged 1000+ Asian artists and professionals

  • David Yee

    ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
    2010-Present

    ABOUT:
    David Yee is a mixed-race (half Chinese, half Scottish) playwright and actor, born and raised in Toronto. He’s also the co-founding Artistic Director of fu-GEN Theatre Company. A Dora Mavor Moore Award-nominated actor and playwright, David’s work has been produced both internationally and right here at home in Canada.

    He’s a two-time Governor General’s Literary Award nominee for his plays lady in the red dress and carried away on the crest of a wave—the latter won the award in 2015, along with the Carol Bolt Award in 2013. In 2023, David was named Laureate of the prestigious Siminovitch Prize in Theatre for his groundbreaking contributions to playwriting.

    As a teacher, David is inspiring the next generation of playwrights at the University of Toronto.

    CONTACT:
    david[at]fu-gen[dot]org

  • Marissa Orjalo

    FUNDRAISING & OUTREACH COORDINATOR
    2019-Present

    ABOUT:
    Marissa is a multi-disciplinary Filipina Canadian artist and arts worker. She jumped into the fu-GEN family in 2019 as an intern, and since then, she’s been a key player in bringing events and initiatives to life—from the GENesis: Pocket Conference & Festival (2022) to the annual Kitchen Potluck Playwriting Unit.

    Marissa holds a Master’s from the University of Toronto, where she explored Filipinx Canadian Theatre Processes for her thesis. She’s grateful for opportunities like the Joseph-Armand Bombardier SSHRC for theatre research, the Douglas Campbell Award for artistry, and the Dora Mavor Moore Award for outstanding young company member at Stratford Festival.

    CONTACT:
    marissa[at]fu-gen[dot]org

Board Of Directors:

Yvette Lam | President
Matthew White | Treasurer
Derrick Chua | Secretary

Advisory Board of Directors:

Olivia Chow
David Henry Hwang
Rick Shiomi

Pictured (left to right): Derrick Chua, Marissa Orjalo, Yvette Lam, David Yee, Vienna Hehir, Julie Phan, and Matthew White at the Siminovitch Prize Awards Ceremony in December 2023.

To learn more about fu-GEN Theatre’s history:

We would like to acknowledge and graciously thank our sustained sponsors and seasonal sponsors:

The patronage of these organizations and foundations have allowed fu-GEN Theatre to create work of the highest artistic calibre, and has fostered Asian Canadian artists across the nation. Thank you.