Suitcase Stories High School Student Matinees

Watch the trailer from the Pacific Theatre production in 2019:

One newcomer, one carry-on, one hilariously epic search for freedom.  

Suitcase Stories 

created & performed by Maki Yi
(best known as “Umma” in Kim’s Convenience by Ins Choi, national theatre tour)

Presented by Burnt Thicket Theatre 

Directed by Colleen Lanki
Lighting Design by Chengyan Boon

With only a tiny suitcase in tow, Maki Yi leaves her home in South Korea and winds up in Regina. She finds that her new life in Canada is both everything she hoped for and the most difficult thing she has ever faced. A ludicrous and vulnerable real-life tale of faith, survival, and self-discovery.

Theatre Reviews

“Suitcase Stories is filled with hope and pluck, it inspires us all to make our own way in the world.” - Janis La Couvée, ArtSmarts columnist with Monday Magazine

"Sometimes, when you see a show, you know that an artist is offering you a personal gift... I’m glad that we have this artist among us." - Colin Thomas, Vancouver

"Yi spends an hour and 40 minutes non-stop, no intermission, on the stage transfixing the audience with her tale of immigrating to Canada from Korea. That is downright impressive." - Alan Woo, Fun! Fun! Vancouver

"Maki’s emotive performance is both creative and animated. She is able to transform the stage and generate images with chalk and ribbon. These images enhance her chronicle of life in a foreign land and underscore milestones with an endearing touch of levity." - Marian Wagner, My Van City

"Brimming with universally relevant themes for today’s world, Suitcase Stories is a creative and winsome invitation into the particular resilience of one woman’s journey." - Meredith Cochran, Regent Et Cetera

About Maki Yi, the play's creator

Born and raised in South Korea, Maki first came to Canada in 2000. She received a BFA in Theatre Performance at University of Regina and an MFA in Interdisciplinary Studies at Simon Fraser University. She was one of the creative members in the making of Saskatchewan New Drama Series: Redemption, which premiered at Saskatchewan Centennial Network. Her autobiographic solo show, Home of My Soul, toured western Canada before she moved to Vancouver to study with DD Kugler. Under his supervision, Maki created MFA project, Gramma, an intercultural performance for her thesis on auto-ethnographic theatre. In 2010, she became a permanent resident, returned to SK Playwright Centre’s New Plays Festival as intern and actor, and spent her time as Playwright in Residence at the University of Regina for the summer, 2011. She moved back to Vancouver for her artistic apprenticeship at Pacific Theatre in the 2011/12 season.

In 2013-15, she collaborated with culturally diverse artists for the interpretive movement piece of a Korean short story, Weaver Woman. For Pacific Theatre’s 30th anniversary season, Maki created Lobby Project: Suitcase Stories. The project was developed into a 90-minute full length play, and has been invited to various theatres, festivals, and conferences. Her acting credits include Kim’s Convenience (Soulpepper Theatre, Pacific Theatre, Arts Club Theatre, and Theatre NorthWest), Seventeen (Western Gold Theatre), God Said This (Pacific Theatre), and Child-ISH (Pacific Theatre). She also enjoys working as a dramaturg, translator and cultural consultant. She is a member of Asian Theatre Working Group within International Federation of Theatre Research.

Since 2008 Burnt Thicket Theatre has given over 460 performances for more than 30,000 people in 58 cities across Canada, from Halifax to Victoria. Based in Saskatoon since 2017.

Many Thanks to our Sponsors

Season Sponsor: SK Arts
Suitcase Stories Production Sponsor: SaskCulture
Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan
Mennonite Central Committee SK
Riversdale Neighbours Church
Stobbe Photo, Saskatoon
Globe Printers, Saskatoon