Large title text in the centre says "Forgiveness". Behind, Ralph MacLean and Mitsue Sakamoto stand, looking off into the distance. Photography by Ted Belton.

Jeff Lillico and Yoshie Bancroft. Photography by Ted Belton.

Tom Patterson Theatre

May 23 – September 27 |

Opens June 18

Drama

FORGIVENESS

By Hiro Kanagawa

Adapted from the book Forgiveness: A Gift from my Grandparents by Mark Sakamoto

Directed by Stafford Arima

Audience Advisory »

“IT'S SAID THE SCARS OF WAR, THE WOUNDS, THE PAIN, GET PASSED DOWN THROUGH GENERATIONS.”

Adapted from the Canada Reads-winning memoir by Mark Sakamoto, Forgiveness tells the story of two people traumatized but not broken by the Second World War. Mitsue Sakamoto and her family are sent to a civilian internment camp in the Canadian interior after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Ralph MacLean joins the Canadian army and endures years of privation in a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp. When the conflict ends, Mitsue and Ralph are forced to confront their long-buried anger and grief when Mitsue’s son and Ralph’s daughter fall in love. An emotional map across time, this story of love and family is a testament to the power of choosing forgiveness over hatred.

Runtime: 2 hours and 49 minutes, including one 20-minute intermission*
*Run times are approximate

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Additional Resources:

Mental Health Resources

CAST & CREATIVE

CAST

CREATIVE

PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEO

A young woman looks off to the side. She is wearing a brown coat.

Yoshie Bancroft in Forgiveness. Photography by David Hou.

A man stands in the foreground wearing shorts and a short sleeved army uniform and green cap. A woman stands in the background, wearing a long brown coat.

Jeff Lillico with Yoshie Bancroft in Forgiveness. Photography by David Hou.

A woman stands next to her husband as he sits at a kitchen table.

Michael Man and Yoshie Bancroft in Forgiveness. Photography by David Hou.

Three young man play hockey. They wear blue and white Toronto Maple Leafs jerseys and carry wooden hockey sticks.

From left: Joe Perry, Gabriel Antonacci and Jeff Lillico in Forgiveness. Photography by David Hou.

Yoshie Bancroft with members of the company in Forgiveness. Photography by David Hou.

A man in an army uniform kneels in front of a bench, with his hands held together in prayer in front of his face.

Jeff Lillico in Forgiveness. Photography by David Hou.

A dark scene of soldiers at war, fighting is cast in green light. They wear uniforms with short sleeves and helmets while they carry guns.

Members of the company in Forgiveness. Photography by David Hou.

A group of Japanese Canadians are standing and facing a projection of an old photo of a Japanese Canadian family.

Members of the company in Forgiveness. Photography by David Hou.

A man in an army uniform stands tentatively in front of a Japanese officer. In the background, a different scene of Japanese-Canadians standing with suitcases in their hand in front of a Canadian officer.

Jeff Lillico (centre) with members of the company in Forgiveness. Photography by David Hou.

A woman kneels in front of a stool, with her hands held together in prayer. On the stool is a vase with a single flower, a bowl with incense, two smaller bowls and a small plate of fruit.

Yoshie Bancroft in Forgiveness. Photography by David Hou.

A group of people stand together in a circle, facing outwards. They all wear long coats and carry suitcases. Some also wear hats.

Members of the company in Forgiveness. Photography by David Hou.

Kato, a Japanese war leader, stands in his uniform and gestures with his arms outstretched. He is holding a drink glass in his hand.

Hiro Kanagawa in Forgiveness. Photography by David Hou.

A man talks happily on an old phone with a curled cord, holding the receiver up to one ear and the base in his other hand. He is wearing light brown slacks with a belt and a red and grey plaid shirt.

Jeff Lillico with from left: Yoshie Bancroft and Michael Man in Forgiveness. Photography by David Hou.

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