Welcome to the digital program for Mark of A Woman by Chisato Minamimura
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A Theatre Passe Muraille presentation of a Chisato Minamimura production
Picture of Chisato Minamimura by Mark Pickthall
Artistic Director and Performer by
Chisato Minamimura
Produced by
Michael Kitchin
Production Management and Lighting Design by
Jon Armstrong
Projection Design by
Mark Morreau
Sound Design by
Dominic Kennedy
Animation by
Dan Chambers
Animation by
Ronnie Cheng
Dramaturgical Support by
Sarah Pickthall and Orrow Bell
Costume Design by
Sophie Donaldson
Videography by
Caroline Smith
Interviewees
Sonia Zambakides and Shuko Fujita
BSL Translation by
Fifi Garfield
Visual Vernacular Experts
Giuseppe Giuranna and Tetsuya Izaki
BSL/Visual Language Consultant
Ramesh Meyyappan
Tattoo Consultants
Stewart O’Callaghan and Nikole Lowe
Theatre Passe Muraille Team
Artistic Director | Marjorie Chan
Artistic Producer | Indrit Kasapi
General Manager | Jenn Sartor
Finance Manager | John Cabanela
Community Engagement Manager | Angela Sun
Development Coordinator | Alecia Pagnotta
Marketing and Communications Manager | Shanae Sodhi
Patron Services Manager | Aws Waham
Production and Facilities Manager | Micah Champagne
Mainspace Technician | David Fisher
Associate Dramaturge | Merlin Simard
Land Acknowledgement
Theatre Passe Muraille gratefully acknowledges the original caretakers of this land, the Anishinabek, Wendat, Haudenosaunee and the Mississaugas of the Credit. We embrace collaborative and collective values as exemplified by Indigenous cultures, and we aspire to live up to those values. We are also particularly inspired by the Dish With One Spoon Treaty. This agreement binds people on this land to share peacefully with their neighbours, so that we may all have enough.
There is one dish, one spoon, and no knife. In that spirit, we honour all who came before us, our own ancestors as well as all the Indigenous caretakers, named and unnamed, recorded and unrecorded. We are grateful to have the opportunity to work, play, and create here in this community, and on this territory.
Thank you.
Access Guide
To access the visual story, please click the button below. An Access Guide is a package that aims to support people with communication difficulties, learning disabilities, English as a second language and Autistic People. It can be used to help anyone access and understand the play. The package may include spoilers.
Accessibility
All performances of Mark of A Woman will be Relaxed Environment (RE). This is created for audiences who have various access needs that a traditional theatre environment does not accommodate. Before a Relaxed Environment performance, audiences will get a visual story that gives them all the information they need to know for the performance (directions to the theatre, pre-show warnings, etc.)
During a Relaxed Environment performance an audience member can: enter and exit the theatre, move around throughout the theatre, can make noise or sounds, and those who need to keep their phone on will be able to do so as long as it is on silent or on vibrate. Our Relaxed Environment is a Scent Free Environment. Throughout the show, there will be some light over the audience.
The show contains ASL and Visual Vernacular, and is accessible for Deaf audiences. There are captions during the showing of the films, but not for any other part of the work. There will also be VoiceOver narration during select scenes.
The script can be provided in advance if requested.
All shows are Relaxed Environment.
This performance contains reference to colonialism, abduction, sexual assault and mild torture. It also references cancer treatment and mastectomy surgery. Age Guidance 14+.
Woojer Straps vibrate (these are optional to use and there are not enough for the entire audience).
Note from Theatre Passe Muraille
The first time I saw Chisato Minamimura’s work, at one point, I gasped, and reflexively pulled my arms into myself. I was experiencing the movement of the Woojer belts for the first time. These vibrating belts were part of one of the first in-person shows we welcomed at our historic red building after the pandemic. Chisato’s harrowing and stark work Scored in Silence was part documentary and part witness about the Deaf survivors of the atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Now, we are pleased to present Chisato’s new work, Mark Of A Woman. I’m thrilled to be able to once again welcome the virtuosity of Chisato, who devises, creates, and performs her original, and ground-breaking works in movement,Visual Vernacular, Sign Language (here translated into American Sign after being created in British Sign) and exquisite projection design.
If I were to define or describe an embodiment of what TPM represents, Chisato is at the centre of it. She is a living example of ‘beyond walls’, traversing form and creation. She imagines a performance from her place in the world that is utterly unique, shedding light with a firm artistic hand.
For me, as well, the embedded access that Chisato includes in all of her productions (for many different communities) is in many ways, what I consider an ideal. Her shows demonstrate her incredible artistry that also has access embedded inside of the aesthetic. Art and Access are the same. Inclusivity is a given, not an an after-thought.
Mark of A Woman, is a very different piece than her first work seen here at TPM. Exploring the connection between tattoo culture and women, it draws the links between body memory, identity and power. Not strictly narrative, the meditative movement is specific and evocative, asking an audience to lean in to her mesmerizing performance. Episodic and elliptical, the work holds a loose structure like how we may encounter memory or navigating a dream.
Much gratitude to Canadian Heritage and the Government of Canada, for their support in order to bring such unique experiences to us here at Theatre Passe Muraille
Enjoy.
Marjorie Chan
Artistic Director
May 2026
Cast
Chisato Minamimura is a Deaf performance artist, choreographer and BSL art guide. Born in Japan, now based in London, Chisato has created, performed and taught internationally and is currently a Work Place artist at The Place. Chisato has been involved in aerial performances with Graeae Theatre Company, London’s Paralympic Opening Ceremony 2012 and Rio’s 2016 Paralympic Cultural Olympiad. Chisato trained at Trinity Laban in London and holds a BA in Japanese Painting and MA from Yokohama National University.
Chisato approaches choreography and performance making from her unique perspective as a Deaf artist, experimenting with and exploring the visualisation of sound and music. By using dance and digital technology, Chisato aims to share her experiences of sensory perception and human encounters.
Chisato’s work is highly regarded and supported by a number of organisations including Arts Council England, British Council, Unlimited, Wellcome Trust and Disability Arts Online. Chisato is fortunate to have received major commissions and funding to support the development and international touring of my work. My work has attracted attention from national and international press through reviews, features, and interviews with TV, radio, print and online publications.
Creative Team
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Special Thanks!
We are grateful for the support of Arts Council England, Battersea Arts Centre, Auckland Arts Festival, Pavilion Dance South West, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Southbank Centre, The Place, and Welcome Collection in the development and touring of Mark of A Woman.
Support Resources
TPM seeks to embrace the challenging conversations in our society with care and community. To support our audiences and community members, we have prepared a list of mental health resources in the document at the link above.
Up Next!
Stay tuned for Theatre Passe Muraille’s 26.27 Season Announcement!
TPM Season Sponsor:
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