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Gateway Theatre鈥檚 artistic director to step down

Jovanni Sy describes theatre as a place where everyone comes together for a love of art
Alyse Kotyk
jovanni.jpg
In a twist on Shakespeare鈥檚, 鈥淎ll the world鈥檚 a stage,鈥� Jovanni Sy鈥檚 motto seems to be, 鈥淎ll the world鈥檚 on Gateway鈥檚 stage.鈥� As artistic director of Gateway Theatre since May 2012, Sy has made remarkable strides in stretching the ethnic diversity of Richmond鈥檚 long-standing cultural hub. Sy was born in Manila and raised in Toronto where he worked as an actor, playwright and director for 20 years. In 2010, he was the playwright-in-residence at the Shaw Festival where he worked on The Birth of the American Empire. He makes regular appearances on two CBC series 鈥� Riverdale and Side Effects. This October, he will perform in the Canadian premiere of King of the Yees, which opens Gateway Theatre鈥檚 2016-2017 season.

After nearly seven years in the role of artistic director, Gateway Theatre鈥檚 Jovanni Sy will be stepping down next year.

The Richmond-based theatre announced the leadership change on Monday, which will come into effect on Feb. 16, 2019. Sy stepped into the role of artistic director in April 2012 and helped Gateway launch its Chinese-language Pacific Festival in 2014

鈥淛ovanni has been a visionary leader for Gateway, bringing the wider community together and inviting more people to experience professional live theatre. The board and I are extremely grateful for what he has accomplished,鈥� said John Watson, the chair of the theatre鈥檚 board in a press release.

鈥淲e need only look at the diverse audiences attending our current production to see evidence of his achievement. Gateway鈥檚 invitation to reprise King of the Yees at Ottawa鈥檚 National Arts Centre last fall also speaks volumes to the success of his programming.鈥�

Sy is also a well-known playwright and actor. His play, , just finished its run at Gateway last weekend and his one-man show, A Taste of Empire, will have its Cantonese premiere in Toronto this May.

Gateway Theatre鈥檚 board will begin its recruitment process in the upcoming months.

鈥淚t was tough decision to make 鈥� to leave a place I care about so deeply,鈥� said Sy in a statement. 鈥淚 know that whoever follows me will continue to make Gateway a relevant creative hub for Richmond 鈥� a place where all voices are heard and where our community comes together for the love of art.鈥�