Director's Note
I've always maintained that one of our responsibilities as theatre artists is to “reveal to heal.” The title of this play reveals what this story is all about. In this case, the parallel stories of a Japanese Canadian family interned during the Second World War and a young Canadian solider held hostage as a POW in Asia.
As a director, to assist in translating the words and history of the characters within Forgiveness, while revealing their poetic and powerful journeys towards healing, was a true gift. I was deeply honored to have been asked to direct Hiro Kanagawa’s epic adaptation of Mark Sakamoto’s breathtaking memoir at this moment in history in which a paradigm shift of diverse storytelling is taking place on our stages.
Awards
The Globe & Mail — Critic's Pick (2025)
5x Winner — Broadway World Awards
Best Direction of a Play
Best New Play or Musical
Best Play
Best Set Design
Best Sound Design
3x Winner — Betty Mitchell Award
Outstanding Direction
Outstanding Production of a Play
Outstanding New Play
3x Nominee — Betty Mitchell Award
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Drama
Outstanding Projection or Video Design
Outstanding Costume Design
Finalist — Governor General's Literary Award (Hiro Kanagawa)
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Credits
Playwright: Hiro Kanagawa (adapted from Forgiveness: A Gift from my Grandparents by Mark Sakamoto)
Set Design: Pam Johnson
Costume Design: Joanna Yu
Lighting Design: John Webber
Sound Design: Joshua D. Reid
Original Composition: Reza Jacobs
Video Design & Animation: Cindy Mochizuki
New Media System Projection Design Team: Sammy Chien & Vanka Salim
Dramaturg: Stephen Drover
Assistant Director: Howard Dai
Fight Director & Stunt Coordinator: Mike Kovac
Intimacy Director: Jessica Anne Nelson
1960s Dancing & Celtic Jig Choreography: Shelley Stewart Hunt
Swing Dance Choreography: Gregory Pember
Cultural Consultant & Dialect Coach (Japanese Canadian): Julie Tamiko Manning
Japanese Language Consultant: Yayoi Hirano
Voice & Dialect Coach (East Coast Canadian): Jane MacFarlane
Military Consultant: Peter Colenutt
Producer: Theatre Calgary / Arts Club Theatre Company
Playwright: Hiro Kanagawa (adapted from Forgiveness: A Gift from my Grandparents by Mark Sakamoto)
Set & Costume Designer: Lorenzo Savoini
Lighting Designer: Kaileigh Krysztofiak
Sound Designer: Olivia Wheeler
Composer: Allison Lynch
Original Illustrations and Animations: Cindy Mochizuki
Projection Designer: Sammy Chien
Assistant Director: Manami Hara
Fight & Intimacy Director: Anita Nittoly
Choreography: Stephanie Graham
Cultural consultant, Japanese Canadian dialect coach: Julie Tamiko Manning
Japanese Language Consultant: Hiro Kanagawa
Voice & Dialect Coach (East Coast Canadian): Paul De Jong & Evan Mercer
Military Consultant: Peter Colenutt
Producer: Stratford Festival
Theatre: Tom Patterson Theatre
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