New Earth Theatre, in association with Arcola Theatre and The North Wall, this week announced the full cast for the world première of Kyo Choi’s The Apology, portraying the stories of the ‘comfort women’ of the Second World War and the subsequent political cover-up. Ria Parry directs Minhee Yeo (White Pearl, Royal Court Theatre), Sharan Phull (Everyone’s Talking about Jamie, UK tour), Kwong Loke (The Great Wave, National Theatre),Sarah Lam (Paradise, National Theatre), Jessie Baek (Bridgerton) and Ross Armstrong (Chernobyl). Based on true accounts by survivors, The Apology opens at Arcola Theatre on 19 September, with previews from 15 September and runs until 8 October.
“The North Wall has a reputation for nurturing and championing bold, brilliant artists who may otherwise be unheard in mainstream theatre – and it has been a privilege to support the development and realisation of The Apology alongside the superb team at New Earth and Arcola Theatre. Kyo is a writer of exceptional talent and I am thrilled to be working with the most wonderful cast to bring this story to the stage.”
Director Ria Parry
Cast: Minhee Yeo (Han Yuna), Sharan Phull (Priyanka Zaafir), Kwong Loke (Han Min),Sarah Lam (Kim Sun-Hee), Jessie Baek (Bok Hae) and Ross Armstrong (Jock Taylor)
A powerful human story which asks how a nation can apologise for the crimes of its past.
Seoul, 1991. Priyanka is beginning the UN investigation into the ‘comfort women’ of the Second World War, and the subsequent political cover-up. Yuna is about to learn the family secret her father has shamefully concealed for her whole life. And Sun-Hee, having kept her silence for over forty years, is on the brink of speaking out – an act which will ignite a fire that could spread across the world.
Three women’s lives intertwine as they campaign for the truth against those who would rather it remain forgotten.