Comedy Special

IN DEVELOPMENT 2026/27

Comedy Special is a new interdisciplinary performance by Amanda Sum that blends stand-up comedy, TED Talk presentation, choreography, music, sound, projection, and theatrical design to explore grief, friendship, aging, and Chinese cultural perspectives on death.

The work begins as a one-woman performance, using humour and plain language to explore the ways traditional Chinese beliefs and superstitions intersect with a Western-influenced experience of loss. Grounded in personal experiences of grief, the piece investigates the ancient Chinese ritual of Laotong, in which unrelated girls were paired as lifelong kindred spirits. Reframing this tradition through a contemporary lens, Comedy Special explores intimacy, friendship and what it means to lose a friend at a young age.

Created and Performed by Amanda Sum
Collaborating Director Maiko Yamamoto
Choreographed Anya Saugstad
Projection Design Daniel O’Shea
Sound Design by Matthew Tomkinson
Set and Lighting Consulting by Sophie Tang
Comedy Consultant - Mark Chavez
Dancers - Jade Chong, Julian Lee, and Emily Lee
Community Partner - Yarrow Intergenerational Society for Justice
Produced by Amanda Sum and Theatre Replacement
Workshop Dancers - Brianne Chan and Nasiv Sall

Early development of Comedy Special was supported through a BCAC Early Career Development grant, a Communities and Artists Shifting Culture grant from the City of Vancouver and a BCAC Individual Arts grant.

Currently seeking funding support for further development of the work.

For further info or for partnernship opportunities, please contact: amanda@theatrereplacement.org

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