18 Jews Order Chinese Food at Persephone Theatre

February 5 – February 16, 2025

After the death of her beloved husband, Jack, Chavi’s children and grandchildren gather around her to grieve – and drive each other crazy. As the family prepares for the funeral, questions about the origin and purpose of traditions arise. As each family member seeks comfort in their own way, they uncover where their own faith comes from and what truly unites them as a family. Steeped in Jewish humour and culture, this heartfelt and funny home-grown story asks what it means to be Jewish in a modern, prairie family.

18 Jews Order Chinese Food is a play homegrown in our community. Local playwright Jenna Berenbaum first created a ten-minute version of the play for the Short Cuts Festival of new work in 2021. The play was then expanded to a one act play as part of Sum Theatre and Persephone Theatre’s First Monday program in 2022. In 2023, the Saskatchewan Jewish Arts Festival, with support from SKArts and B’nai Brith Lodge #739, presented a staged reading of the full two act version, which is now receiving its first full production at Persephone Theatre.

Recommended 12+

The production runs approximately 2 hours, including one 20 minute intermission.