Posted by ReyFort Media
Presented by Presentation House Theatre
With Community Partners: Kasama Chocolate and NPC3
North Vancouver, BC Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Territories – After its sold-out run at the 2025 PuSh International Performing Arts Festival, Lasa ng Imperyo is back for a run at Presentation House Theatre (PHT) this October! “I am so excited to open my first season at Presentation House Theatre with Lasa ng Imperyo/A Taste of Empire,” shares Keltie Forsyth, PHT Artistic Director.
First up in PHT’s newly launched 4th Street Series for adults, Carmela’s Filipino translation of A Taste of Empire by Jovanni Sy brings a complex lens to the colonial effects on raw ingredients and the hands that touch them as she makes the famously hard-to-make Filipino dish, rellenong bangus. “A sharp, witty, and hilarious balance of live cooking demonstration and bilingual performance, Carmela puts on a masterclass in charming an audience,” adds Forsyth. “Don’t miss it! Your taste buds will thank you.”
“Lasa Ng Imperyo sizzles because of its intimacy, sharp framing, and bite-sized critiques.”
– Angie Rico, Stir
“Dramaturgically stunning, thought-provoking and resonant to my being and heritage.”
– Audience Member
EVENT DETAILS
Lasa ng Imperyo
- A Taste of Empire by Jovanni Sy
- Adapted, Translated and Performed by Carmela Sison
- Directed by Marcus Youssef
- Location: Presentation House, 333 Chesterfield Ave, North Vancouver, BC, V7M 3G9
- Dates: October 9-11 and 16-18 at 7:30 PM and October 12 & 19 at 2:00 PM
- Tickets: $20-$50 | https://www.phtheatre.org/lasa-ng-imperyo-oct-2025/
EVENT DESCRIPTION (English)
Superstar of the culinary world, Master Chef Maximo Cortés is offering an exclusive demonstration, sharing the secrets of his trademarked Imperial Cuisine cooking techniques with you, his lucky, elite guests! Or at least, he would have, if he had shown up.
Luckily, the witty and intrepid Sous-Chef Mela is here to save the day! Her task? To cook rellenong bangus, or stuffed milkfish, a dish whose intricate preparation process takes its roots from the country’s culinary traditions and colonial past. In a surprising fusion of theatre and gastronomy, this live cooking demonstration pairs the harsh truths of a global food system with shocking humour. Performed in Tagalog with English surtitles, this show guides audiences across the layered history of Philippine cultural heritage through a live cooking demonstration.
This adaptation of Jovanni Sy’s A Taste of Empire reimagines this acclaimed play through a fresh female perspective. As the dish is brought to life, so too are the stories embedded within its ingredients.
EVENT DESCRIPTION (Tagalog)
Ang superstar ng mundo ng kulinariya, si Sir Chef Maximo Cortés, ay dapat sanang magbahagi ng kanyang sikretong teknik sa pagluluto ng Imperial Cuisine sa isang eksklusibong demo para sa inyong mga maswerteng piling panauhin. Ito sana ang kanyang gagawin kung siya ay sumipot.
Buti na lang narito si Chef Mela. Matalino, matapang, at handang sagipin ang araw. Ang kanyang misyon? Magluto ng rellenong bangus, isang putaheng may komplikadong proseso at malalim na pinagmulan mula sa tradisyunal at kolonyal na kasaysayan ng Pilipinas. Sa isang kakaibang pagsasanib ng teatro at gastronomiya, ihahatid ng live na cooking show na ito ang mga mapapait na katotohanan tungkol sa pandaigdigang sistema ng pagkain, na may halong nakakalokang katatawanan. Itatanghal ito sa Tagalog na may Ingles na surtitles. Gagabayan ng palabas ang mga manonood sa patong-patong na kasaysayan ng kulturang Pilipino sa pamamagitan ng isang live na demonstrasyon ng pagluluto.
Ang adaptasyong ito ng A Taste of Empire ni Jovanni Sy ay muling binibigyang-hugis ang kilalang dula mula sa sariwang pananaw ng isang babae. Habang niluluto ang putahe, unti-unting bubuhayin ang mga kuwentong nakapaloob sa bawat sangkap.
About rice & beans theatre:
rice & beans theatre is a Vancouver-based theatre company founded in 2010 by Pedro Chamale and Derek Chan. We provide a platform for the creation, development and production of boundary-pushing theatre by artists of colour or otherwise marginalized theatre-makers, as well as support to fellow artists by providing dramaturgy, direction, and mentorship. We are dedicated to facilitating original Canadian work that is honest, uncompromising and personal. In 2018, rice & beans was nominated for a Dora Award for its production of 食盡天下/A Taste of Empire with Cahoots Theatre in Toronto. In 2019, its production of Chicken Girl was nominated for 3 Jessies in Vancouver and in 2022, its production of Yellow Objects won a Jessie Innovation Award.
About Presentation House Theatre:
Nestled in the heart of North Vancouver’s Lower Lonsdale, Presentation House Theatre has become a neighbourhood creative hub, providing the community with a dynamic mix of professional theatre, music, and dance productions — all just a Seabus away from downtown Vancouver. We are the North Shore’s professional theatre company. For more than 40 years, we’ve entertained audiences with innovative programming and quality professional productions in our wonderfully welcoming space. We are committed to presenting and producing shows of the highest standard, and appealing to the diversity of North Shore audiences. We proudly offer programming for children and youth, adults young and old.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Please feel free to revise the copy to fit your organization’s audience. You can tag us through our social media accounts, listed below:
Instagram:
- @riceandbeanstheatre
- @phtheatre
- @kasamachocolate
- @npc3society
- Facebook:
- @ricebeansthtr
- @PresentationHouseTheatre
- @kasamachocolate
- @NPC3Society
Newsletter:
Lasa Ng Imperyo is back, after its SOLD-OUT run at the PuSh International Performing Arts Festival. In a surprising fusion of theatre and gastronomy, this live cooking demonstration pairs the harsh truths of a global food system with shocking humour. Performed in Tagalog with English surtitles, the show guides audiences across the layered history of Philippine cultural heritage through the cooking of rellenong bangus, or stuffed milkfish, a dish whose intricate preparation takes its roots from the country’s colonial past. This exciting adaptation of Jovanni Sy’s A Taste of Empire reimagines the play through a fresh female perspective in a show unlike anything you have seen before.
Tickets are sliding scale from $20-$50. Get them before they’re gone!
Facebook and Instagram:
Lasa Ng Imperyo is back, after its SOLD-OUT run at the PuSh International Performing Arts Festival. In a surprising fusion of theatre and gastronomy, this live cooking demonstration pairs the harsh truths of a global food system with shocking humour. Performed in Tagalog with English surtitles, this exciting adaptation of Jovanni Sy’s A Taste of Empire reimagines the play through a fresh female perspective in a show unlike anything you have seen before.
Tickets are sliding scale from $20-$50. Get them before they’re gone!
Media Contacts:
Araceli Ferrara, Marketing Coordinator, Presentation House Theatre
marketing@phtheatre.org or 604-990-3473
Heather Barr, General Manager, rice & beans theatre
heather@riceandbeanstheatre.com or 613-697-7262
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