Thursday, July 9 – 7pm (preview)

Friday, July 10 – 7pm (opening)

Saturday, July 11 – 2pm & 7pm

Tuesday, July 14 – 7pm

Wednesday, July 15 – 7pm

Thursday, July 16 – 7pm

Friday, July 17 – 7pm

Saturday, July 18 – 2pm & 7pm

Sunday, July 19 – 2pm

Lost in a storybook world, can Philly rescue her lola, save the magical land of Uwi, and find her way home?

In Through the Bamboo, twelve-year-old Philly is pulled into an action-packed adventure while mourning the loss of her lola (“grandmother” in Tagalog) when she opens an old book and finds herself tossed into the fantastical land of Uwi. 

Similar to The Wizard of Oz, The Chronicles of Narnia, and Alice in Wonderland, this imaginative Filipinx-Canadian folktale adventure invites audiences into a magical world brought to life through inventive object puppetry, immersive storytelling, and audience participation. Inspired by Philippine mythology, the production weaves together themes of grief, love, and legacy, offering a rich theatrical experience rooted in intergenerational wisdom and a vibrant celebration of culture.

Accessibility is one of Crossroads’ main priorities. Little Avenue Memorial Park is physically accessible, and the production will include on-site access coordination. For more information, check out the Through the Bamboo Access Guide, found on the Crossroads Theatre website: www.crossroadstheatre.org. 

Through the Bamboo is written by Byron Abalos and Andrea Mapili, Directed by Chantelle Han 

Starring 

Olivia Sgambelluri

AP Bautista

Jainee Fernandez

Jude Baris

Neil-Erine Palmaria

Production Manager: Carlos Varela 

Technical Director: Nathan Greogory

Set and Puppet Designer: Olivia Wheeler

Lighting Designer: Echo Zhou

Sound Designer: Miquelon Rodriguez

Costume Designer: Jung A Im

Cultural Consultant: Motzie Dapul

Puppetry Director: Michelle Urbano

Access Coordinator: Mandy E. MacLean

Marketing & Outreach: Lili Robinson

Publicity: Amira de Vera 

Photo credit:

otîhêw by PJ Prudat at Arts in the Parks 2023, photography by Matt Hertendy.

Performers from left to right: Jonathon LeRose, Spencer Bennett, Nicole Joy-Fraser, Jewell Bowry, Raymond J. Johnson-Brown, and Brefny Caribou