The Cultch Presents the World Premiere of Tetsuro Shigematsu's EMPIRE OF THE SON, October 6-17
By: Sally Henry Fuller Sep. 12, 2015
TICKETS: Tickets from $25. On sale now at The Cultch's Box Office, by phone at 604.251.1363, or online at The Cultch
Written by and starring Tetsuro Shigematsu (former host of CBC's "The Roundup"), Empire of the Son is the story of his personal relationship with his father who is now dying. Separated by a generation but connected by blood, Tetsuro and his father speak different languages and possess different values, but what has kept them apart is their similarities.
As the story of two generations of broadcasters, there has been a lifetime of radio silence between them. With time running out, Tetsuro attempts to reach out to his father, but is constrained by outmoded, yet persistent cultural traditions about what it means to "be a man."
Based on a series of audio interviews, Empire of the Son uses a camera, miniatures and a projector to magically conjure entire worlds: from the ashes of Hiroshima to the glass towers of Vancouver and beyond. It is a unique theatrical hybrid that combines the cinematography of film being screened at the moment it is being shot with the raw immediacy of a performance piece that is intimately connected to real life in real time.
As a funny, poignant story of one immigrant family and their intergenerational conflicts, this one-man show blurs the borders between artistic disciplines and continents. A deeply immersive experience, Empire of the Son is at once uncannily familiar yet exhilaratingly new, as it marshals the tiniest of objects to focus on life's biggest questions.
Empire of the Son is written and performed by Tetsuro Shigematsu
Produced by Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre
Artistic Producer: Donna Yamamoto
Director/Original Concept Dramaturgy: Richard Wolfe
Dramaturge: Heidi Taylor
Set Designer: Pam Johnson
Lighting Designer: Gerald King
Costume Designer: Barbara Clayden
Sound Designer: Steve Charles
Audio Dramaturge: Yvonne Gall
Stage Manager: Susan Miyagishima
Technical Director/Production Manager: Jayson McLean
Props Master: Carole Macdonald
Video Design Consultant: Remy Siu
Apprentice Stage Manager: Maria Zarrillo
Apprentice Lighting Designer: Tory Ip
Documentary Audio: Yoshiko & Akira Shigematsu
About Tetsuro Shigematsu:
A former writer for This Hour Has 22 Minutes, Tetsuro became host of The Roundup on CBC Radio after Bill Richardson handed him the reigns in 2004. Tetsuro can be seen on Spike TV's reality program The Deadliest Warrior, where he talks smack and kills Vikings. He writes for The Huffington Post, and his YouTube channel has been featured on CNN. His body of radio and screen work is taught in universities throughout North America. Tetsuro is a PhD candidate at UBC as a Vanier scholar, where he also teaches creative writing. www.shiggy.com
About Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre:
The Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre (VACT) was established in 2000 and incorporated as a non-profit society in 2001. Its vision is to enrich lives by presenting stories from an Asian-Canadian perspective through the development and production of professional Asian-Canadian theatre shows and talent. www.vact.ca
About The Cultch:
Now in its 42nd season, The Cultch has been one of Vancouver's most diverse and innovative arts and cultural institutions, offering dynamic programming in contemporary theatre, dance, and music by local, national, and international artists. Today, The Cultch continues to enrich the social and cultural life of Vancouver by bringing world-class cultural presentations to the public, supporting the growth of emerging artists and companies, and facilitating dialogue between groups in the Lower Mainland, especially within our local community of East Vancouver.
The Cultch is so much more than just a theatre in the physical sense - our organization is looked upon as one of the foremost performing arts presenters in the country. Widely recognized as an innovator and leader, we have played an integral role in the development of British Columbia's artistic landscape. www.thcultch.com
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