Make Banana Cry
By Andrew Tay + Stephen Thompson
January 14 – 17, 2026
A Toronto Dance Theatre production in partnership with Buddies in Bad Times Theatre
“banana” isn’t just slang — it’s a symbol of the performance, erasure, and reclamation of self.
Choreographers Andrew Tay and Stephen Thompson are the co-creators of Make Banana Cry, a genre-defying work merging runway aesthetics with contemporary performance and dance.
In an attempt to shake off the weight of representation and fetishization, an international cast of six East Asian artists critique, parody, and protest stereotypes of “Asian-ness.” Slipping between the codes of couture and contemporary art, straddling spectacles of consumption and entertainment, Make Banana Cry is an impressive demonstration of physicality, an unrelenting examination of Western xenophobia, and an ingenious show of humour and wit. Presented for the first time in Toronto after critically acclaimed performances at Impulstanz (Vienna), Portland Institute of Contemporary Art and Festival TransAmériques (Montreal).
photo of Andrew Tay, photography + creative direction by Fran Chudnoff, styling by CC Calica, makeup by Rahnell Branton
Toronto Dance Theatre (TDT) is an iconic name within the Canadian dance landscape. Founded in 1968, the company was instrumental in ushering a new era of modern dance to Toronto and national audiences. Today, under the leadership of Artistic Director of Andrew Tay, TDT is recognized for the important role it plays as an incubator of boundary pushing dance and performance practices: supporting works that resist categorization, challenge the status quo, and redefine possibilities for the field. The company frames programming in the context of relevant societal issues and champions underrepresented voices in all its mainstage performances and artistic development programs.
Andrew Tay + Stephen Thompson // choreographers + co-creators
Cynthia Koppe, Francesca Chudnoff, Hanako Hoshimi-Caines, Sehyoung Lee, Winnie Ho, Stephen Thompson // performers
Dominique Pétrin // visual installation
Romane de Montgrand // production
Emerson Kafarowski // technical director
Öykü Önder // lighting design + tour technician
Buy Tickets
Dates + Times
Opening Night
Jan 14 // 7:30PM
Show Run
Jan 14 – 17
Wed – Sat // 7:30PM
Tickets
$10 / $25 / $45 / $75 + fees
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