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“An astonishing feat of compelling, economical storytelling.” —Toronto Star
The Kingdom of Jin, 612 BCE. The ruthless court minister Tu-An Ku orchestrates the annihilation of his rival, Chao Tun, and nine generations of his family. Only one survives: Chao Tun’s newborn grandson, smuggled to safety by the doctor Cheng Ying. When the state decrees the execution of every infant until the orphan of Chao is found, Cheng Ying makes an unthinkable sacrifice to save the sole descendant and deceive Tu-An Ku into raising the boy as his own. Years later, the orphan must confront the truth of his lineage to avenge his family’s bloodline.
Based on the thirteenth-century Chinese opera The Great Revenge of the Zhao Orphan by Ji Junxiang 紀君祥, Michael Man boldly adapts this legendary five-act revenge tale into a gripping, action-packed one-act with urgent contemporary resonance. Often called the “Chinese Hamlet,” The Orphan of Chao is a timeless story of survival, sacrifice, and the cost of preserving one’s values in the face of eradication.
"The Orphan of Chao is Michael Man’s first foray as a playwright and it is an auspicious one." —Ontario Stage
“The Orphan of Chao is not only relevant…it hits closer to home than any other show in the current Shaw season.” —The Globe and Mail
“Pure theatrical magic…The Orphan of Chao is a compelling tale of tyrannical violence, told in a quick, sharp, highly entertaining, and engrossing tale of morality and immorality, unfolding conceptualizations that readily connect to our current worldview and political climate, all the while using traditional pageantry and art.” —front mezz junkies
“Themes of revenge, sacrifice, filial duty, honour, love, mortality and morality become powerfully new in this pared down riveting adaptation…Michael Man has given us a timeless story relevant to courage and the sacrifices ordinary people are prepared to make to protect the values they believe in.” —Niagara Now, 5 out of 5 stars
Actor, pianist, theatre creator. Born in Hong Kong, having lived in Vienna and Taipei, now based in Toronto, Michael Man has been fortunate to act, write, teach, learn, and play around the world. A graduate of the Taylor Academy, George Brown Theatre School, and Queen’s University, he’s performed on stages across Canada, and has been a member of the acting ensembles of the Shaw and Stratford festivals. He’s created new works with ESPI Theatre in Taiwan, and has placed in piano competitions in Puigcerdà, Spain, and Paris, France. The Orphan of Chao is his playwriting debut.