Rachel Tanaka is one of the most sought-after directors working in English Canadian theatre today. Born in Victoria and trained at the University of British Columbia and the directing program at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, she returned to Canada in the early 2010s and quickly built a reputation for staging that is precise without being cold, and emotionally fearless without being indulgent. Her productions are known for their exceptional work with actors, and she has a particular affinity for the naturalistic, politically charged plays of the Canadian tradition. She has directed across the country for Tarragon, the Citadel, Theatre Calgary, and the Belfry, and her 2021 production of The Longest Border at Canadian Stage was named one of the ten best productions of the year by City Stage Magazine. This is her third production of a George F. Walker play.
