Kevin has always wondered about his roots. Kevin is Hakka 客家. He thinks. Out of the blue, Kevin receives a phone call asking him to write a play about Hakka identity. For seniors.

From theatre creator, performer and video artist Kevin Matthew Wong comes a charming and intimate storytelling experience that blossoms into a multi-layered Chinese-Canadian tale spanning continents, migrations, and generations.

Vulnerable and epic, moving and playful, BENEVOLENCE is a powerful exploration of community, hybrid identities, and legacy. Tracing the roots of the Hakka 客家—one of the world’s most widely dispersed communities—Kevin embarks on a journey to untangle these threads within himself.

Benevolence has been developed through residencies with Tarragon Theatre, Why Not Theatre, and the Centre for Drama, Theatre & Performance Studies at the University of Toronto.

Why Not Theatre acknowledges the support of the Canada Council for the Arts, Toronto Arts Council, Ontario Arts Council, and the Wuchien Michael Than Foundation.

Benevolence was originally produced by Tarragon Theatre with Why Not Theatre and Broadleaf Creative, April 8 – May 4, 2025 in Toronto, Canada.