In 2012, Peterborough Collegiate and Vocational School (PCVS) was supposed to close, but the students organized and campaigned to keep their high school open. In the end, they lost but the spirit of standing up for what they believe in is now the subject of a play – staged in the auditorium of that same school building.
Theatre Direct Canada and Prairie Fire, Please – in collaboration with 4th Line Theatre and the Peterborough Museum and Archives – present the world premiere of award-winning Peterborough-born playwright Madeleine Brown’s Give ‘em Hell. The play runs from September 15 to 23, 2023 at Peterborough Alternative and Continuing Education (PACE), formerly PCVS, the school that is the subject of the play. Among the 11-person cast, there are eight local Peterborough teens acting in the production.
About the play Give ‘em Hell
Give ‘em Hell tells the story of the final school year leading up to the 2012 closure of PCVS. Fighting to save their high school, PCVS students experience “the power of activism, the perils of self-discovery and what it costs to stand up for a cause.” This world premiere production, staged in the former PCVS building – now Peterborough Alternative and Continuing Education (PACE) – is accompanied by an exhibition of archival materials from this critical time in the school’s history.
Give ‘em Hell is a fiercely relevant and provocative play that will surely inspire the next generation of young activists through its powerful and true story.
About Theatre Direct Canada
Now in its 46th season, Theatre Direct Canada is one of the country’s leading theatres for young audiences, with award-winning productions that have reached audiences in schools and theatres across Canada and the world. Recent collaborations include the Dora Mavor Moore award-winner for Outstanding New Play Finding Home: A Salmon Journey up the Humber River and Wishes in the Wind, a soulful parade capturing the struggles and resilience of children commissioned by the National Arts Centre of Canada.
About Prairie Fire, Please
Prairie Fire, Please (PFP) is a collective founded by Madeleine Brown and Aaron Jan, taking its name from the equally fiery and awkward vodka and tabasco-based cocktail. In 2016, Aaron dared Madeleine to write her first play, and they’ve been united under PFP ever since, producing plays that pack a punch in style, content and laughter. PFP’s productions have garnered sold-out runs, NOW Magazine and Patron’s Pick Awards, and acclaim from critics and audiences. In July 2023, Madeleine’s play Margaret Reid premiered at Here For Now Theatre in Stratford, ON, and was noted for its “inventive imagination” (The Slotkin Letter) and Madeleine herself: “a serious playwright worth watching” (Ontario Stage). It was included in the Toronto Star’s round-up of summer theatre to see.
“Madeleine Brown and Aaron Jan are masters of tone and concept, injecting sincerity and emotional resonance into their slightly absurdist, stylized productions.” – Istvan Reviews
About 4th Line Theatre
For 30 seasons, 4th Line Theatre has been bringing history to life on the barnyard stages of a rustic 5th generation farm in Millbrook, ON, between Peterborough and Port Hope. Founded in 1992 by Creative Director Robert Winslow, this outdoor theatre company is committed to preserving Canadian cultural heritage through the development and presentation of environmentally-staged historical drama. 4th Line has developed and presented 40 original plays based on regional history and culture.
About Peterborough Museum & Archives
Peterborough Museum and Archives is a multi-faceted cultural institution, owned and operated by the City of Peterborough, serving Peterborough and the surrounding regions through its collections, exhibitions and award-winning programming. The PMA hosts the Fleming College Museum Management and Curatorship program, has produced national traveling exhibitions and is a recognized conservation leader.
(Photo credits: Theatre Direct & Praire Fire, Please)
Event details
Presented by: Theatre Direct Canada
Co-produced by: Theatre Direct Canada & Prairie Fire, Please, in collaboration with 4th Line Theatre & the Peterborough Museum and Archives.
Type of event: theatre performance
Written by: Madeleine Brown
Directed by: Aaron Jan
Cast: Lion Addison, Jalen Brink, Edith Burton, Ziqin Chen, Ella Cunningham, Jeff Dingle, Eloise Harvey, M. John Kennedy, Isabelle Siena, Sarah Lynn Strange & Jessie Williams
Dates: Friday, September 15 – Saturday, September 23, 2023
Start times:
-
- Friday, September 15 @ 7:30 PM ET
- Saturday, September 16 @ 7:30 PM ET
- Sunday, September 17 @ 2:30 PM ET*
- Thursday, September 21 @ 7:30 PM ET
- Friday, September 22 @ 7:30 PM ET
- Saturday, September 23 @ 2:30 PM ET
* Theatre Direct will run a round-trip shuttle from Toronto to Peterborough on Sunday, September 17 for the 2:30 PM performance. Book your spot through the Theatre Direct contact info below.
Duration: Approximately 60 minutes + a 15-minute Q&A with the artists afterwards
Number of performances: 6
Cost: Children/Teens/Students: C$13.54; Adults: $25.57 (prices include booking fee & tax)
Location: Peterborough Alternative and Continuing Education, 201 McDonnel Street, Peterborough, ON, K9H 2W1
Booking link: Book your tickets here
Contact Details: Sehar Bhojani, Associate Artistic Director; Theatre Direct Canada, 1 Wiltshire Ave, Unit 127, Toronto, ON, M6N 2V7, Canada; 905-912-4247, sehar@theatredirect.ca, theatredirect.ca
Accessibility: Please contact the organizer for accessibility information.
Refund policy: See Theatre Direct contact info above. Eventbrite’s fee is non-refundable.