If you don't know...Jeff Yung
…Let me introduce you!
“I believe art brings people together. It allows folx from all intersections and histories to feel not so alone, I think that's the mission.”
Jeff Yung is an actor, martial artist and sometimes poet/writer, a partner, cat parent, teacher and friend, based in Toronto. He thinks it’s “important to find balance between all the “job titles” you give yourself and the ones that are bestowed upon you from the life you’re living.”
Jeff and I trained together at Ryerson Theatre School. He’s an incredibly kind and warm human being and I’m excited to share his answers to my questions with you.
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HALEY: How do you describe your work?
JEFF: I'm primarily an actor, although this year I've been trying to expand what I feel I am capable of doing in the world of art and creation. If I were to describe the work I'm known for outside of just acting, I'd say it's collective creation resulting in work that sits at the intersections of an interactive and theatrical experience.
HALEY: What are some favourite projects that you’ve worked ?
JEFF: I'm a member of the 6th Man Collective. I've worked with them over the past almost decade to develop and create the show known as Monday Nights. It's a wholly unique experience that is part sport, part theatre, and part interaction. It's one of my favourites because I've never developed or worked on anything like it before. The stories come entirely from the lives of the collective members so it's also one of the most (if not the most) personal pieces I've ever done. I also really love and care for the collective and over the years we've developed really deep and meaningful friendships and connections with one another. It's a true gift to be able to call them friends as well as artistic collaborators.
I was in the Factory Theatre remount of their naked season production of Banana Boys. The show chronicles the lives of 5 friends while they deal with heartbreak, addiction, identity, trauma, and belonging. All while trying to maintain the friendships that kept them together. I had the immense fortune to be able to do the show (which was also the second time I got to play the role) with four of my best friends in theatre.
Most recently I worked at Young People's Theatre on Jeff Ho's adaptation of Antigone called Antigone: 方. Jeff's adaptation drew inspiration from global fights for democracy; specifically the events of Tiananmen Square and the Hong Kong umbrella protests of 2014. In addition to being an incredible adaptation the work spoke deeply to me from a sociopolitical standpoint.
HALEY: Where did you study or train?
JEFF: I trained at Ryerson Theatre School with an incredibly talented class but I'd say I learned the most about being an artist from other artists in the community. The artist I am today is because of the opportunities and mentorship provided by people like: Marjoie Chan, Nina Lee Aquino, Richard Lee, Tanisha Taitt, Diana Tso, David Yee, Jennifer Brewin, Jeff Ho, Esther Jun, Franco Boni and John Ng. I also feel like I owe a lot of growth and development to indie companies in the city, I've learned a great deal working with and alongside Shakespeare BASH'd and Shakespeare in the Ruff both from the leaders of those companies as well as the artists that they bring on.
HALEY: What are you working on these days?
JEFF: I'm currently working on a new work as part of the Cahoot's Theatre Hot House Lift Off Playwright's Unit and am currently voicing the role of Masato Kazami on the cartoon Bakugan: Battle Planet & Bakugan: Armoured Alliance.
HALEY: What artists do you look up to?
JEFF: I admire so many artists in my community. The artists I mentioned before are all pioneers and trail-blazers in their own right and I look up to them absolutely, but I also look up to the artists who aren't in the same place. The artists who haven't got a break. The artists who are still finding their voice. The artists who are discovering what ways they want to make art, or how they can be artists. The artists who aren't doing art anymore. It's such a mixed company of experience, passions and pursuits, and I don't think I can list everyone cause it'd take up all the space on this article, but I am very much in awe of them all.
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Follow Jeff on Twitter & look through his Linktree, which is choc-full of fantastic anti-racism resources and more.