An old hay wagon has been transformed into a travelling playhouse to tour Prince Edward County with a colourful new play about the region’s history.
The play, called The Boxcar Cowboy, will have its world premiere on July 16, when the self-contained theatre on wheels will be pulled by a pair of Clydesdales into Benson Park, Picton.
The show is being produced by Station Road Arts Collective (SRAC), a Hillier-based theatre group that has produced plays in theatres and other venues for 10 years. The collective has named the travelling theatre “Roamin’ Theatre Roulant.” The theatre will visit eight places around the County with a troupe of actors and musicians between July 16 and September 10.
“This project is unique for three reasons,” says John Burns, co-founder of SRAC. “An original play about Prince Edward County is touring in Prince Edward county in Canada’s only travelling theatre.” Burns, a 50-year theatre veteran based in Wellington, Ontario is known for being the founder of Festival Players of Prince Edward County.
The Roamin’ Theatre wagon will leave Prince Edward County Fairgrounds at 1 p.m. and arrive in style at Benson Park at 2 p.m., with musicians playing and actors rousing the crowd.
The play, beginning at 7 p.m. and suitable for viewers of all ages, tells the story of Charles Sherwin, a depression-era teen from Hillier who rode the rails and came to be known across the country as The Boxcar Cowboy.
The Boxcar Cowboy was written by award-winning, Hillier-based writer Conrad Beaubien, co-founder of SRAC and a 50-year veteran of Canadian television, theatre and print.
Bring your own chairs and pay what you can for this outdoor performance which runs approximately 60 minutes.
More information at www.stationroadarts.com/now-playing
PERFORMANCE DATES
JULY
Saturday July 16 at 7 p.m., Benson Park, King Street, Picton
Friday July 22 at 7 p.m., Honey House Cafe, Consecon
Friday July 29 at 7 p.m., Base 31, Picton
Saturday July 30 at 2:30 p.m., Base 31, Picton
AUGUST
Thursday August 4 at 7 p.m. in association with Festival Players, The Eddy, 15786 Loyalist Parkway, Wellington
Friday August 5 at 7 p.m. in association with Festival Players, The Eddy, 15786 Loyalist Parkway, Wellington
Friday August 12 at 7 p.m., The Waring House, 395 Sandy Hook Rd, Picton
Saturday August 13 at 7 p.m., The Waring House, 395 Sandy Hook Rd, Picton
Saturday August 20 at 2:30 p.m., Base 31, Picton
Sunday August 21 at 2:30 p.m., Base 31, Picton
Friday August 26 at 7 p.m., Rose Hall Run, 1243 Greer Road, Wellington
Saturday August 27 at 7 p.m., Rose Hall Run, 1243 Greer Road, Wellington
SEPTEMBER
Friday September 2 at 7 pm, Huff Estates Winery and Inn, 2274 Prince Edward County Rd 1, Bloomfield
Saturday September 3 at 7 pm, Huff Estates Winery and Inn, 2274 Prince Edward County Rd 1, Bloomfield
Sunday September 4 at 2 pm or 7 pm TBD, Huff Estates Winery and Inn, 2274 Prince Edward County Rd 1, Bloomfield
Saturday September 10 at 2 pm and 7 pm, Picton Fair, Picton
