Empire of the Son Second Tour

Empire of the Son went on its Second tour from November 2017 – February 2018

“Empire of the Son is exquisite. It’s also painstakingly honest… the storytelling is poetic, associative—and often funny. I can’t say enough good things about Empire of the Son… one of the best shows of the year.”
– Colin Thomas, The Georgia Straight

Tour Dates
November 22-26, 2017 | Artistic Fraud, Resource Centre for the Arts, St. John’s, NF

December 1 2017 | Imperial Theatre, Saint John, NB

January 16 – January 28, 2018 | Alberta Theatre Projects/High Performance Rodeo, Calgary, AB

February 1-18 2018 | The Citadel, Edmonton, AB

About the Show
The second tour of the original, multi-disciplinary play by former CBC broadcaster Tetsuro Shigetmatsu who discovers vast worlds contained within his emotionally remote father – from the ashes of World War II and Hiroshima, to swinging London in the 1960s. As he learns about how his own father was once a son, Tetsuro realizes all the ways in which he himself needs to step up and become a better dad. Empire of the Son is a funny, emotional portrayal of parent/child relationships, and a reminder of no matter how far we journey out into the world to find ourselves – across decades and continents – we never stop being our parents’ children.

Empire of the Son originally premiered at The Cultch in October 2015. The show was completely sold out before it even opened – unprecedented for the premiere of a new Canadian play. Its subsequent extension was also completely sold out.

Playwright & Performer: Tetsuro Shigematsu*
Artistic Producer: Donna Yamamoto
Director/Original Concept Dramaturgy: Richard Wolfe*
Set Design: Pam Johnson
Dramaturg: Heidi Taylor (Playwrights Theatre Centre)
Lighting Design: Gerald King
Costume Design: Barbara Clayden
Sound Design: Steve Charles
Audio Dramaturg: Yvonne Gall
Stage Manager: Susan Miyagishima*
Technical Director/Production Manager: Andrew Pye
Props Master: Carol Macdonald
Video Design Consultant: Remy Siu
Apprentice Lighting Designer: Tory Ip
Production Manager: Adrian Muir
Documentary Audio: Yoshiko & Akira Shigematsu

*With permission of the Canadian Actors’ Equity Association.

Partners
PTC

Press Coverage
“Tetsuro Shigematsu’s Empire of the Son is a lovely stage memoir” – J. Kelly Nestruck, The Globe and Mail

“Empire of the Son extraordinary in its ordinariness” – Patrick Langston, Ottawa Citizen

“Empire Of The Son makes a strong solo outing” – Glen Sumi, NOW Toronto

“Tetsuro Shigematsu’s Empire of the Son is exquisite” – Colin Thomas, The Georgia Straight

“Empire of the Son is understated perfection” – Cecilia Lu, VanCity Buzz

“Grief stripped raw in all its beauty: One man show is a powerful display of emotion” – Erika Thorkelson, Vancouver Sun