Canada's Largest Commemoration of the Centennial of the WW1 Armistice18 Debuts in Cobourg
Tickets are on sale now with many shows already close to sold out!
COBOURG, ON, Aug. 2, 2018 /CNW/ - The Town of Cobourg is honoured to be hosting Canada's largest commemoration of the centennial of the World War 1 (WWI) Armistice from September 21 until November 11, 2018 through the Armistice18 project. Honouring local war heroes who have served in Canada's military, Armistice18 will offer a variety of showcases that include music, art installations and history exhibits, speaker series, and theatre productions.
Ten years after the end of WWI, Cobourg's historic Victoria Hall Courtroom, modeled after London's Old Bailey Courtroom was the scene of a sensational trial that has been called "the last battle of the Great War." The case was a libel suit brought by Sir Arthur Currie, the general who had led the Canadian Corps to victory in 1918. The cause of his grievance was a front-page article in a Port Hope newspaper which claimed that Currie had needlessly wasted Canadian lives in the capture of Mons on the last day of the war. The trial placed Canada's entire role in the Great War under a spotlight and kept the country riveted for weeks.
"We have a great opportunity ahead of us here in Cobourg to commemorate the World War 1 centenary and to do so in a truly respectful and collaborative way," said Councillor Suzanne Séguin from The Town of Cobourg. "It is absolutely crucial that we remember the many sacrifices that the armed forces and their families made, and continue to make, every day for the safety of our country. Armistice18 is a commemoration project that will ensure future generations are fully aware of how their ancestors fought bravely for our country. We encourage you to come out to one of the many plays, concerts, art and history exhibits and speaker series taking place here in Cobourg, Ontario."
Theatre
Play: Last Day, Last Hour: Canada's Great War On Trial | Playwright: Hugh Brewster
Show Dates: October 18-November 11 (most Thursdays to Sundays)
Venue: Old Bailey Courtroom, Victoria Hall, 55 King Street West, Cobourg, Ontario.
A new play by Hugh Brewster, Last Day, Last Hour: Canada's Great War on Trial recreates the charged atmosphere of this epic trial. Presented in the historic Old Bailey Courtroom in which it all took place, the play is directed by Michael Khashmanian of the Beech Street Theatre and produced by local theatre company Northumberland Players.
Play: Mary's Wedding | Playwright: Stephen Massicotte
Show Dates: September 21-October 14 (most Thursdays to Sundays)
Venue: Firehall Theatre, 213 Second Street, Cobourg, Ontario.
The Northumberland Players present the powerful World War I drama Mary's Wedding by Stephen Massicotte which highlights the last great cavalry charge of the war.
Reading: The Stars on Her Shoulders | Playwright: Stephen Massicotte
Show Dates: October 18 & 20, November 4, 8 and 10.
Venue: Victoria Hall Concert Hall, 55 King Street West, Cobourg, Ontario.
This will be a staged reading of a new play about Canadian nurses in World War 1 and produced by local theatre company Northumberland Players.
Music
Armistice: Cobourg's Great War Remembered in Words, Images and Song | Director: Hugh Brewster
Show Dates: Pre-opening Gala on Saturday, September 29 at 8 p.m.
Venue: Trinity United Church, 284 Division St., Cobourg, Ontario.
An unforgettable depiction of 1914-1918 and the remarkable part played by the men and women of Cobourg. Historian Hugh Brewster and Bridgette Robinson narrate the spellbinding history with a multimedia screen show and beautiful choral music by the Grammy Award winning Elora Singers.
Speaker Series
A series of talks by leading Canadian historians will be held on Sunday afternoons at 1 p.m. in Victoria Hall's Concert Hall, 55 King Street West, Cobourg, Ontario. Sponsored in part by Lit On Tour.
October 14: Jack Granatstein is acclaimed as the Dean of Canada's war historians. The author of over 60 books and a former head of Canada's War Museum, he will speak on Canada's Hundred Days in 1918, the subject of his latest book, The Greatest Victory. Sponsored by the International Festival of Authors (IFOA).
October 21: Tim Cook is a historian at Canada's War Museum and the author of many authoritative yet highly readable accounts of Canadians under fire. He will speak about the fraught relationship between Arthur Currie and Sam Hughes, the subject of his book, The Madman and the Butcher.
November 4: Charlotte Gray has been hailed as Canada's best-loved historical writer. The author of such bestsellers as Sisters in the Wilderness and The Promise of Canada, she is also a biographer of Nellie McClung, a pioneer of women's suffrage who will feature in her talk about how Canadian women won the vote in 1918. Sponsored by the Vimy Foundation's Centennial Speaker's Series.
History & Art Exhibition
Throughout Armistice18, a multi-media exhibition on World War I will take place at Victoria Hall.
The Art Gallery of Northumberland will feature a WW1 painting exhibition by contemporary Canadian artist Charles Pachter.
An exhibition on WWI will be on display in Victoria Hall's Concert Hall, including The Great War in Colour photographs, book and documentary sponsored by the Vimy Foundation. This will be a timeline of WWI that will also include information on local veterans, Arthur Currie, the Hundred Days and the capture of Mons.
Box Office Information
Tickets are being sold at The Concert Hall at Victoria Hall Box Office and can be purchased by calling 1-855-372-2210 or by visiting www.concerthallatvictoriahall.com.
For more information on Armistice18 please visit www.experiencecobourg.ca/armistice-18 or contact 1-855-372-2210.
About The Town of Cobourg
The Town of Cobourg is a lakeside community (population 19,440) located on the north shore of Lake Ontario halfway between Toronto and Kingston and has been recognized multiple times by MoneySense Magazine as "One of Canada's Best Places to Live" in populations under 25,000.
Founded in 1798, Cobourg is rich in heritage offering a vibrant downtown, sophisticated small town atmosphere and renowned waterfront that serves as a popular getaway destination. As the largest town in Northumberland County, Cobourg is personified by historic Victoria Hall, hosts a $27.4 million community centre, an educated and skilled labour force, flourishing commercial sector and supportive municipal government. Cobourg has received the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Sustainable Communities Award, accolades from the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Alliance, and multiple heritage, environmental, and event awards.
SOURCE Town of Cobourg
Media Contacts: Ashley Purdy, CMP, Communications Manager, Town of Cobourg, p: 905-372-4301 x 4105, e: [email protected]; Dean Hustwick, MPA, Director of Community Services, Town of Cobourg, p: 905-372-7371 x 8423, e: [email protected]
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