Play Date
Read a play with us each month
Monthly play reading activity aiming to spread awareness, and increase appreciation of playwrights and playwriting from around the world. Anyone is welcome to join, and read regardless of play reading or language skills. The session will be followed by a discussion led by a professional theatre artist to spark conversations about the themes, style, form, and current world issues related to the selected play.
Coming up next
Third Thursday of the Month
7:00PM - 9:30PM
The Impostor (If I Were Real)
The Impostor (If I Were Real)
“The Impostor (If I Were Real)” is a satirical play co-written by Sha Yexin, Li Shoucheng, and Yao Mingde. Set during the Cultural Revolution in China, it follows Tang Zhiyu, an ambitious young man who poses as a high-ranking official to climb the social ladder. The play humorously exposes the absurdities of bureaucratic systems and human vanity while offering a scathing critique of the era’s societal norms. Its sharp wit and poignant themes make it a compelling work that continues to resonate with audiences today.
Sha Yexin
Sha Yexin is a prominent Chinese playwright and screenwriter known for his bold and innovative storytelling. Born in 1939, he emerged as a key figure in modern Chinese drama, challenging political and cultural norms through his work. Sha’s plays, including “The Impostor,” often explore themes of identity, power, and morality. His commitment to social commentary and artistic integrity has earned him acclaim both within and beyond China. Despite facing censorship during his career, Sha remains an influential voice in contemporary theatre.
JOIN PLAY DATE
Play Date is a monthly play reading activity, held on the third Thursday of each month. We read one play from around the world together. The play reading is followed by a group discussion about the play. Anyone is welcome to join and practice reading out loud, regardless of experience or level of English comprehension. With Play Date, learning English becomes fun. This is a place where you can practice speaking out loud, expand your vocabulary and meet new people. Play Date is produced by Crane Creations Theatre Company. Crane Creations is an immigrant led professional theatre company located in Mississauga, Ontario Canada. Join us for our next Play Date!
Reading a play is like venturing into a new world.
Third
Thursday
Every Month
every 3rd Thursday, 7:00PM - 9:30PM
Testimonial
FAQ
Most frequently asked questions and answers
Do I need to purchase a copy of the play to participate?
No, there is no need to purchase the play in order to participate in the play reading, although we strongly encourage you to supporting the livelihood of playwrights by purchasing their published work. For the purpose of Play Date read, we have obtained a permission of the playwrights to read their work and you will be provided with access to it on the day of the read. Please do consider supporting playwright by either purchasing the play, attending a show in the future or donating. Thank you.
Can I just listen if I don’t want to read?
Absolutely! If you would like to join us for one session just to see how it goes, feel free.
I have never read a play before. How do I prepare?
You are trying something new! Yay! No need to prepare anything, we will explain how things go during our event. If you have any special requests, or accessibility needs, please e-mail us at: info@cranecreations.ca
How do I suggest a play to read?
Of course you can! Join us for a Play Date, and enter your suggested play in the survey at the end of the session. Our team will read the play, contact the playwright (if the play is still under copyright) and add find a way how to add it to the schedule.
How are the roles going to be distributed?
Each Play Date we share the roles based on how many characters are in the story, and how many participants we have.
What If I'm not very good at reading?
Don’t worry. There is no pressure! This is your time to practice, and fail without judgement. People of all levels are welcome to join.