About the Play:

Kim's Convenience is a full-length dramatic comedy by Ins Choi. How do we share our legacy? Mr. Kim has built a tiny empire from nothing. His convenience store is his life, his livelihood, and he hopes his daughter Janet will take over Kim's Convenience... but she has other plans for her future. Wholly original, hysterically funny, and deeply moving, Kim's Convenience tells the story of one Korean family struggling to face the future amidst the bitter memories of their past.

Kim's Convenience centers on Mr. Kim who is a first-generation Korean immigrant and the proud owner of Kim's Convenience, a variety store located in the heart of downtown Toronto's Regent Park neighbourhood. There, he spends his time serving an eclectic array of customers, catching petty thieves, and helpfully keeping the police apprised of illegally parked Japanese cars. As the neighbourhood quickly gentrifies, Mr. Kim is offered a generous sum of money to sell – enough to allow him and his wife to finally retire. But Kim's Convenience is more than just his livelihood – it is his legacy. As Mr. Kim tries desperately, and hilariously, to convince his daughter Janet, a budding photographer, to take over the store, his wife sneaks out to meet their estranged son Jung, who has not seen or spoken to his father in sixteen years and who has now become a father himself. Winner of Best New Play and the Patron's Pick Award at Toronto's Fringe Festival, and then a hit CBC TV sitcom, Kim's Convenience is the critically acclaimed, wildly popular, debut play by celebrated actor, playwright, and poet Ins Choi.

This edition includes an updated Introduction by Ins Choi, as well as essays from the Co-Creator of the TV series and cast members who were in the original theatrical production and star in the TV series as well. The book also includes a 16-page black-and-white photo insert featuring photos from the original Fringe production, the Soulpepper production, as well as photos from the CBC TV series.

Kim's Convenience premiered in 2011 at the Bathurst Street Theatre during the Toronto Fringe Festival and won Best New Play and the Patron's Pick Award. The play launched Soulpepper Theatre's 2012 season to a sold-out run and rave reviews, becoming the most commercially successful production in the company's entire history. It has been a smash-hit from coast to coast and is a Canadian classic in the making.

Cast: 2 female, 2 male, plus 1 male playing 4 roles

What people say:

"Gut-bustingly funny with a huge heart." — Vancouver Sun

"Kim's Convenience is, in theatrical terms, far more than a handy, unremarkable corner milk store. Since its premiere, Ins Chois play has become a Canadian classic that has touched and entertained audiences across the country." — Toronto NOW

About the Playwright:

Ins Choi is a Canadian actor, poet, and playwright. Born in South Korea, he grew up in Scarborough, and graduated from the acting program at York University in Toronto. He has performed with many theatre companies including the Stratford Festival, fu-GEN, and Soulpepper Theatre Company. His inaugural, award-winning play Kim's Convenience was first produced at the 2011 Toronto Fringe Festival where it became an instant hit.