Genki Bear: Memoirs of a Granddaughter, Kizuna Theatre

“Genki Bear: Memoirs of a Granddaughter” traces Misty’s ever-evolving bond with her Japanese grandmother, brought to life on stage through a bunraku-style puppet. Spanning years and continents, the play stitches together childhood visits to Baachan’s house, a formative trip to Japan, and Misty’s search for identity. Expect to see: a grown woman in a Care Bear costume, an over-the-top samurai sword fight, a few questionable wigs, and one unforgettable tribute to the sassiest grandma around. This heartfelt and hilarious show is created for adults, but is suitable for audiences ages 10 and up. “Great storytelling, easy to follow, tugs at the heart strings. Handkerchief maybe required ️” – Caede Pungente, Vancouver Fringe Audience Member “’Genki Bear’ is a beautifully crafted play, where puppetry and live acting seamlessly interact to reach deeply into the heart.” – Clayton Jevne, Artistic Director, Theatre Inconnu “Cozac’s storytelling background breaks the 4th wall and establishes a whimsical attitude and relationship with the audience. She also has that special skill of acting naturally with a puppet. Grandma is as real as you and me.” – Tim Gosley, Canadian Puppeteer “I think this is the best thing I’ve seen all year. It’s deeply heartfelt, profound, full of love and laughter. It’s absolutely beautifully staged. It has EVERYTHING I want from theatre – most of which is to be moved.” – Ian Case, Theatre Artist 2026 Victoria Theatre Collective Spotlight Awards winners for Design, Direction, and Semi-Professional Production Credits Created by – Misty Cozac About the Artist Misty Yumiko Cozac (writer/co-director/performer) – is a mixed-race Romanian and Japanese Canadian (sansei/yonsei), who hails from the Blackfoot Confederacy’s ancestral lands (southern Alberta). With a BFA (U of L) and MA (U of T) in Drama, she has a rich theatre background. Misty is particularly proud of her work on plays about Japanese Canadian internment, Winter Pond (actor, U of L) and The Plum Tree (director, New West). Her recent work, Between Earth and Sky, was just performed at SKAMpede 2026. Kevin Eastman (co-director/performer) – is alumnus of UVic. Kevin has worked across Victoria’s theatre scene. They are currently a stage manager at the Farquhar Auditorium. Recent credits include creating and performing The Ballad of One-Eyed Mike for SKAMpede 2025, serving as stage manager and assistant director for This Much I Know at Theatre Inconnu, and directing I Fell in Love with Moby Dick for 5 Stages. Noé Nishizawa (performer) – is a Japanese-Canadian voice actor embodying the voice of Baachan in Genki Bear. Her love for storytelling began in childhood, reading and creating stories to entertain her siblings. Noé’s voice can be heard in a diverse range of projects. Some recent credits include video games such as MechWarrior 5: Clans and Assassin’s Creed Shadows as well as audiobook narrations including Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood and Hello Limerence by Momo Yamaguchi. Douglas Hensley (musician) – has studied classical guitar, various lutes, and classical Persian instruments. He is a member of the Vancouver Inter-Cultural Orchestra, Steluţa, Three Rivers, and the ensemble Daryâ. His improvised banjo playing for the documentary Earth to Art: Basketmaker (about the work of his sister, Jennifer Heller) was a Finalist for the Best Original Music Award at the Oregon International Documentary Film Festival. He teaches at the Victoria Conservatory and loves collaborating with theatre, dance, and other arts. Taylor Guidotti (stage manager) – is a stage director, intimacy director, and stage and production manager from Calgary, but now proudly resides in Victoria, BC. A recent graduate of the University of Victoria’s theatre program (BFA 2020), Taylor has worn many hats at various performing arts festivals in Alberta and British Columbia. Most recent credits include: [Co-Festival Manager, Technical Coordinator] Common Ground Festival; [Stage Management] The Incredible Glowing Woman (hapax), Abandoned (One Act Festival 2023); [Director] The Crime on Goat Island, Aphra, Such Creatures. The War of the Worlds (untitled theatrics). Instagram: @kizuna_theatre https://kizunatheatre.com/ Accessibility Content warnings: Mentions of Japanese-Canadian internment. Sensory warnings: Audience interaction and/or participation. Know before you go, learn about this venue with our Venue Guide. For more accessibility information see the Accessibility at the Fringe page on our website.