As Kim’s Convenience prepares to hit the road across the UK, a heartwarming reunion is set to bring even more depth to this beloved production. James Yi (Kim’s Convenience, Netflix; The Interview) will reprise his role as the loveable yet stubborn patriarch Appa, joined by Caroline Donica as his on-stage daughter Janet. This reunion marks their UK debut, bringing an authentic chemistry to this much-loved story of family, tradition, and generational change.
Presented by Adam Blanshay Productions and Park Theatre, this family drama will tour with this special reunion at its heart, giving wider audiences the chance to catch the evolving, comedic, and often tense relationship between Appa and Janet. Yi and Donica’s on-stage dynamic, honed from their previous run of the production at Georgia’s Aurora Theatre in 2023, captures the push and pull between first-generation immigrant values and the ambitions of the next generation, a theme prominent within Ins Choi’s award-winning play.
Joining Yi and Donica are Candace Leung (Spent, BBC; Criminal Minds, CBS) as Umma, Daniel Phung (Blade Runner 2099, Amazon; Rain Dogs, HBO/BBC; My Neighbour Totoro, RSC) as Jung, and Andrew Gichigi (Kim’s Convenience, Riverside Studios; Anansi Boys, Amazon) as Alex.
Caroline Donica comments, “I am beyond excited to join this incredible team for my UK theatrical debut performance in Kim’s Convenience. I can’t wait to bring Janet Kim to life alongside such a talented group of artists in a story with universal themes of family, growth, and cultural identity. This is going to be an unforgettable experience!”
Kim’s Convenience offers a universal perspective on generational divides, identity, and belonging. While rooted in the immigrant experience, the play’s themes resonate far beyond any one culture, capturing the tensions and tenderness between parents and children as they navigate the balance between tradition, modernity, and personal ambition. Through humour and heart, Kim’s Convenience sheds light on the shared human experience of family, making it a story that speaks to audiences from all backgrounds.
Winner of The Stage’s 2025 inaugural Campaign of the Year award and originally debuting at the Toronto Fringe Festival in 2011 – where it won Best New Play and the Patron’s Pick – the play continues to champion East and Southeast Asian representation on stage and on screen. Inspiring the globally loved CBC and Netflix series of the same name, which saw five seasons and featured James Yi, the story’s captivating themes of identity, family, and intergenerational conflict have resonated with audiences across cultures and adaptations.
This UK tour offers audiences nationwide the chance to experience the warmth, wit, and emotional power of Kim’s Convenience.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
