The Blyth Festival is celebrating its 50th season this year with a program that features world premieres, and a focus on women’s stories, told by women. The Festival continues in its tradition as the only theatre company in the country to exclusively produce new Canadian plays.
In its history, the festival has premiered 156 new Canadian plays.
Festival Highlights
The Trials of Maggie Pollock (July 31 to August 29) World Premiere
In June of 1919, Maggie Pollock was arrested on the charge of witchcraft, and became the last woman in Canada to be convicted of the crime. Women could already vote and run for office, but not escape the stigma associated with witch legends.
The play was written by Beverley Cooper, who penned Innocence Lost: A Play about Steven Truscott. Commissioned by the Blyth Festival, Lost was a finalist for the 2009 Governor General’s Literary Award.
Officially, Maggie was convicted of “telling fortunes”, and lost her appeal at the Supreme Court of Ontario. She lived out the rest of her life under house arrest. You can still visit Maggie’s grave, located in Blyth.
Onion Skins and Peach Fuzz: The Farmerettes (August 14 to September 7)
Canadian playwright Alison Lawrence takes a look at the lives of farm girls, or farmerettes — young women who left cities across Canada to work as farm labourers during the Second World War. The play was inspired by the book by Bonnie Sitter and Shirleyan English, and delves into how they coped with the day to day grind of farm life.
The young women, all between the ages of 16 and 21, were unprepared for what they’d encounter, but it’s not all work and no play. The story is based on extensive research into the real history of the Farmerettes, and delves into the social history of the day, including prejudice and the war looming overseas.
Read Paula Citron’s review of the play here.
“This season is particularly special as it not only highlights the rich tapestry of Canadian storytelling and talent that is at the very core of what the Blyth Festival is all about, but it also celebrates the powerful narratives created by women, about women,” says Gil Garratt, Artistic Director of the Blyth Festival in a statement.
“With Maggie Pollock and Onion Skins we have a chance to learn about the incredible resilience and strength of these little-known women from Canadian history, as told by some of the best playwrights in Canada right now.”
Also On The Bill
Four more plays round out the lineup of new Canadian works.
- Saving Graceland by Gil Garratt (World Premiere) — a family crisis interrupts a Clinton, ON couple’s plans for the annual Collingwood Elvis Festival. Continues to August 3.
- The Golden Anniversaries by Mark Crawford (World Premiere) — married couple Glen and Sandy Golden’s 50th anniversary on the lake don’t quite go as planned. Continues to August 4.
- The Farm Show: Then & Now By Theatre Passe Muraille, With Additions By The 2024 Company — the show that launched the Blyth Festival. Continues to August 4.
- Resort To Murder by Birgitte Solem (World Premiere) — a murder mystery comedy about a couple who inherit a resort on Lake Huron, a storm, and the murder confessions that ensue. Runs July 24 to August 31.
Blyth is located north of Toronto, about 20 minutes from Lake Huron. Find more information and tickets [HERE].
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