Tarragon Theatre Premieres CARRIED AWAY ON THE CREST OF A WAVE Tonight

Tarragon Theatre presents the world premiere of carried away on the crest of a wave, written by acclaimed playwright-in-residence David Yee. This moving exploration of the effects of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami opens tonight, April 24 and runs to May 26, 2013 in Tarragon's Mainspace.

A singular, cataclysmic event - the Boxing Day, 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami - took the lives of more than two hundred thousand people. It was one of the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history.

A series of vignettes about the ripple effects of this heartbreaking tragedy, carried away on the crest of a wave illustrates the interconnectedness of everything. From a mysterious escort in Thailand to a Catholic priest in India, from two brothers in Malaysia baling out their ocean-filled home to a housewife in Utah baking a pie, the play ponders what happens when the events that tie us together are the same that tear us apart?

A talented ensemble cast under the direction of Nina Lee Aquino - Kawa Ada (Factory Theatre's Iceland, Cahoots Theatre's paper SERIES-Dora Mavor Moore Award nomination), Ash Knight (Factory's Brothel #9-Dora nomination, bcurrent's Wise.Woman), Richard Lee (Fu-GEN Theatre Company's Ching Chong Chinaman, Young People's Theatre's Cinderella (A Ratical Retelling)), John Ng (Fu-GEN's Ching Chong Chinaman, K'now's Pu-Erh-Dora nomination), Mayko Nguyen (Liars Theatre Co.'s Claire, From the Bus; Gemini nominations for Regenesis and Rent A Goalie) and Richard Zeppieri (Tarragon's Girl in the Goldfish Bowl, Factory's The Leisure Society) - take the stage to bring this imaginative work to life.

David Yee is Canadian born, of Chinese/Scottish descent, and co-founder and Artistic Director of fu-GEN Asian Canadian Theatre Company, now celebrating its 10th anniversary season as Canada's only professional Asian Canadian theatre company. A Dora-nominated actor and playwright, Yee's work has been produced in Canada and internationally. His play lady in the red dress was nominated for a 2010 Governor General's Award as well as a Dora Award for Outstanding New Play while paper SERIES was shortlisted for the 2011 Carol Bolt Award. He now makes his writing debut at Tarragon with carried away on the crest of a wave, following his beautiful performance in The Golden Dragon in 2012. He is also a regular contributor to The 180, a national current affairs show on CBC Radio One, where he rants about things that make him upset.

Nina Lee Aquino is a director, dramaturge and playwright and is currently Co-Artistic Director of Factory Theatre. With her Tarragon directing debut, she comes full circle as she first encountered Canadian theatre at the age of 17 performing at Tarragon's Spring Arts Fair, shortly after emigrating from the Philippines. While Artistic Director of Cahoots Theatre (2009-13), she directed premieres of Matthew MacKenzie's SIA and David Yee's paper SERIES for which she won a Dora Award for Outstanding Direction. For fu-GEN, Aquino recently directed the premiere of Ching Chong Chinaman. While Artistic Director at fu-GEN (2002-10), she directed the premieres of Lee's lady in the red dress and Catherine Hernandez's Singkil; she earned Dora nominations for Outstanding Direction for both. Her productions of People Power for Carlos Bulosan Theatre and The Making of St. Jerome for eastBOUNDtheatre also earned her Dora nominations. She also directed The Invisible Girl and The Monster Under the Bed for Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People. Aquino has been honoured with the Ken McDougall Award and the Canada Council John Hirsch Prize. She next directs the premiere of Sister Mary's a Dyke?! for Cahoots Theatre Company in May.

The design is by multi-award winners Camellia Koo (set and costumes) and Michelle Ramsay (lighting). The sound design is by Michelle Bensimon; the stage manager is Joanna Barrotta.

2026 Theater Fans' Choice Awards - Live Stats

Best Lead Performer in a Musical - Top 3

1. LJ Benet - The Lost Boys, A New Musical

20.4% of votes

2. Joshua Henry - Ragtime

16% of votes

3. Sam Tutty - Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)

9.7% of votes

Vote Now! View Live Stats