Tide of Hope: a play about the Peter Robinson Immigration

Tide of Hope: a play about the Peter Robinson Immigration will introduce local students and the greater community to the story of David Nagle, an Irish land agent and rent collector forced to flee with his family to Upper Canada in 1825.

Trent Valley Archives Theatre’s inaugural production is set for an afternoon of dedicated shows for groups of local Grade 6 to 12 students, with public performances on May 15 and 16 at 7:30 p.m.

“Some people think history is kind of dry, but at its heart, it’s the stories of people who have come before us dealing with many of the same issues we are grappling with today. And seeing those struggles brought to life on stage can be a powerful experience, indeed,” said director Gerry McBride. “Over the years I’ve seen lots of live theatre productions with students. When the lights go down, it’s thrilling to see how quickly they become gripped with what’s happening on stage.”

Written by local playwright Ed Shroeter, Tide of Hope commemorates the 200th anniversary of the Peter Robinson Immigration, when over 2,000 Irish people settled in Nogojiwanong.