October 9 – 19, 2025
Ticket Prices – Subsidized: $20 / Regular: $30 / Full Value: $40 / Generous: $50
Choose your price! We offer sliding scale tickets at PHT that allow you to pick the price that works for you, no questions asked! Learn more about our ticket pricing here.
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The running time of this show is approximately 75 minutes with no intermission.
Visual Story for Lasa ng Imperyo (A Taste of Empire)
A visual story helps prepare people for coming to a show, or decide if this show is right for them. This guide will help answer questions such as things in the show that might be intense, how people react, and everything that happens.
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.
Food will be served. Contact 604-990-3473 if you have allergy concerns.
Ages: 14+
A rice & beans theatre Production
Presented by Presentation House Theatre
With Community Partners Kasama Chocolate and NPC3
Lasa ng Imperyo
A Taste of Empire by Jovanni Sy
Translated, adapted, and performed by Carmela Sison*
Directed by Marcus Youssef*
Set/Lighting Designer: Parjad Sharifi
Video/Surtitle Designer: Andie Lloyd
Props/Costume Designer: Jennifer Stewart
Sound Designer: Mary Jane Coomber
Performer: Oliver Fusio
Stage Manager: Jethelo Espaldon Cabilete*
Technical Director/Surtitle Operator: Christian Ching
Premiere Dramaturg/Consultant: Karla Comanda
Workshop Dramaturge: Nina Lee Aquino
Portrayal of Chef Maximo in Projection Images: Derek Chan
Photography Credit for Images of Chef Maximo: Pedro Chamale
Photography Credit for Promotional Images: Emily Cooper
*The participation of these Artists is arranged by permission of Canadian Actors’ Equity Association under the provisions of the Dance•Opera•Theatre Policy.
A rice & beans theatre Production
Presented by Presentation House Theatre
With Community Partners Kasama Chocolate and NPC3
October 9 – 19, 2025
Thursday, October 9 – 7:30 PM
Friday, October 10 – 7:30 PM
Saturday, October 11 – 7:30 PM
Sunday, October 12* – 2:00 PM
Thursday, October 16 – 7:30 PM
Friday, October 17** – 7:30 PM
Saturday, October 18 – 7:30 PM
Sunday, October 19 – 2:00 PM
*Sunday, October 12th at 2:00 PM’s performance of Lasa ng Imperyo (A Taste of Empire) will include an Artist Talkback afterwards.
**Friday, October 17th at 7:30 PM’s performance of Lasa ng Imperyo (A Taste of Empire) will include an Artist Talkback afterwards. Prior to the show, starting at 6:30 PM, a Filipino Artist Showcase will take place in the lobby.
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.
Ages: 14+
A rice & beans theatre Production
Presented by Presentation House Theatre
With Community Partners Kasama Chocolate and NPC3
SHOW ADVISORY: Please note that this show includes the live cooking of fish, coarse language, flashing lights, and references to war and violence towards Indigenous peoples. If you have any accessibility needs, please reach out to our Box Office at boxoffice@phtheatre.org or 604-990-3474.
Photo of Carmela Sison by Emily Cooper.