Friday, April 24, 2009

The Duncombe Rebellion

In support of our local community, as well as our mandate to preserve the history of the Talbot Settlement, the Tyrconnell Heritage Society provides the following information from "Your Wardsville". Tickets for the matinee and gala are available from the Carriage House Office behind the Backus Page House (519-762-3072)or by contacting the individuals listed below.

Wardsville: ‘The Duncombe Rebellion’ is about ordinary people caught up in a struggle for something we all take for granted - the right to govern ourselves. The Duncombe Rebellion 1837 honours that struggle, and recognizes the sacrifices made on our behalf.

This past Monday, the Wardsville community met to work on plans for KinDay June 20th which features a living history play about a fight for democracy that ended in disaster. The play launches the 50th anniversary celebration at Fanshawe Pioneer Village Victoria Day weekend May 15 to 18 and continues on tour in June to Sparta, Wardsville and Lexington Michigan.

Al Leitch, an actor playing Henry Morrow, a Loyalist militia man, explained the military aspect of the story. Laura Jean McCann, a cellist, talked about how she will create the sound and ambience.
Eleanor Blain, Vice President of the Your Wardsville community association, says that it's a great opportunity for local people to witness their own history.

The play tours three historic sites connected with Duncombe’s story. In beautiful Sparta on Saturday June 6, a highlight will be a re-creation by Rev Nick Wells of Colonel Thomas Talbot’s St George Day speech in 1834 - an effort by the ruling Family Compact to crush the growing unrest. Sparta is also planning tours, displays and a visit to the grave of Joshua Doan, Quaker farmer and martyr to the rebel cause.

Relatives of the rebels are curious to see this story come to life. Ged Doan from Wardsville is a direct descendent of Joshua Doan. “I’m no historian so this play will be a great way to learn more about my family story.”

On Saturday June 13 the play is presented in Lexington, Michigan, an area that was just beginning to develop in the 1830’s. The connection to Duncombe is intriguing: Richard Shenick, a boy who travelled with him on his flight to freedom, became one of the many Canadian refugees who settled there after the rebellion and never returned to Upper Canada. Richard became a leading pioneer in the area. His life story will come full circle when a busload of Canadian actors arrives in Lexington to tell how it all began.

The final performance of ‘The Duncombe Rebellion’ takes place on Saturday June 20 in Wardsville - a historic village on Highway 2 that might adopt a new slogan: ‘Charles Duncombe slept here’. For a modest price, ‘Rebels and Quakers’ can purchase matinee tickets and a dinner following - for slightly more, members of the ‘Family Compact’ can buy dinner, the play and an ‘after-glow’ party. There will be much to celebrate!


"The Duncombe Rebellion 1837" creative team includes award-winners playwright Marion Johnson and director Jason Rip.
-30-

For further information contact:
Nancy Johnson,
Producer,
Living History Productions
nancycjohnson@hotmail.com
(519)657-3994
http://www.duncombedays.ca

or Mary Simpson
519 287 3566

1 comment:

Mary Simpson said...

This is the kind of historical play that we dream about. Marion Johnson, the playwright, has won awards at the London Fringe theatre. I can't wait to see it so I'll have to get tickets for opening night at Fanshawe Village and closing night in Wardsville.