A little bit of Oz in Wonderland… plus more local events

You’re reading the November 29, 2024 edition of the Peterborough Currents email newsletter. To receive our email newsletters straight to your inbox, sign up here.

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Good morning,

Welcome to the arts and community newsletter from Peterborough Currents. I’m Alex, and I send this email every Friday to catch you up on what’s happening in the community.

On Wednesday evening, the Elizabeth Fry Society of Peterborough held its annual Rebel With a Cause event, recognizing community members who advocate against injustice and inequality in Peterborough. Three individuals and two local organizations were honoured this year, and guests were treated to live music and poetry along with dinner and a silent auction.

Also in this newsletter: Otonabeats is mixing gothic ambience and dance music on Saturday, featuring award-winning Hamilton-based industrial techno musician Christina Sealey along with local DJ talents inside a decommissioned church on Rubidge Street.

And, the Peterborough Theatre Guild is bringing whimsy and wonder to the stage with ten performances of the musical Dorothy in Wonderland, running November 29 to December 8. Tickets are going fast, especially for matinee shows, so make sure to reserve your seats if you want to catch a performance.

As usual, I also have some event listings for you if you’re looking for something to do this weekend!

Let’s get started.

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Honouring local change-makers at Rebel With a Cause

The Elizabeth Fry Society of Peterborough held its eighth annual Rebel With a Cause event at Showplace Performance Centre on Wednesday evening. It was an intimate gathering of community members who share a commitment to fostering equity and inclusion for folks experiencing criminalization in Peterborough. 

Guests enjoyed dinner and refreshments, a poetry reading by Peterborough’s poet laureate Ziysah von Bieberstein, and live music by local band Babe Chorus. A silent auction also was set up in the Showplace lobby, with all funds from tickets and the auction benefitting the morning drop-in program at the Trinity Centre located at 360 Reid Street.

Every year, Elizabeth Fry staff and community partners like Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre (KSAC) nominate the Rebels to be honoured at the event. “We came up with some really amazing rebels this year,” said event emcee and Trinity Centre morning drop-in program coordinator Kristal Jones. “Folks who are thinking outside the box to kind of dismantle systemic injustices.”

The community members named as this year’s Rebels included Hiawatha First Nation dancer, writer, educator, and activist Kelli Marshall, One City Peterborough daytime drop-in coordinator, Cheyenne Buck, and KSAC prevention education and community engagement coordinator, Jocelyn Enright. 

For the first time, Rebel With a Cause also honoured two organizations for their work in the community. The inaugural Radical Audacity Award went to Peterborough Action for Tiny Homes (PATH) for its efforts to provide safe, temporary housing for people without homes, as well as its Community Clothing Hub, which supplies weather-appropriate clothing to those experiencing homelessness. Meanwhile the first Business Excellence Award was presented to Arising Collective for its work providing consulting and coaching services to local non-profits.

“Especially in the colder months, the impact of the Community Clothing Hub is life-saving and limb-saving,” Jones said. She added that PATH was recognized for donating $10,000 to the morning drop-in program “at a crucial time when our funding had run out… that donation meant that we would be making it to our two-year mark in January, so we’re incredibly grateful.”   

The Trinity Centre morning drop-in program is operated by the Elizabeth Fry Society of Peterborough in partnership with One City Peterborough and PATH. The program provides a safe, warm space for people of all ages to enjoy coffee and breakfast together, access needed clothing and supplies, washrooms and showers, and connect with community supports. The program is still seeking donations. Learn more and contribute here.

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Otonabeats goes gothic at former St. Andrew’s Church

Since 2021, Otonabeats has introduced the Peterborough community to seasoned and emerging DJs through its monthly dance parties. The group has become known for its late-night bashes under the stars, but in March Otonabeats held a party inside the former St. Andrew’s Church at 441 Rubidge Street for the first time. 

This Saturday, they are back with You Want It Darker, an evening of techno, house, industrial, electronic, and disco music by local DJs m0lly milli0ns, D MoisL, and DJWJD. The night will also feature the sounds of Christina Sealey, an award-winning Hamilton-based musician who Otonabeats co-founder Emily Minthorn calls an “industrial techno goddess.” Sealey’s music is popular in the heavy rhythmic noise scene, and touches on themes of mental health, environmental issues, and more.

“I’d been looking for an excuse to bring Christina Sealey to town,” Minthorn said. “I really wanted the event to be special.” 

When Otonabeats hosted its March showcase at the former church, Minthorn knew she had found the venue where she would invite Sealey to play.

“I remember thinking to myself, wow, finally a room worthy of a world-class musician like Christina,” Minthorn said. “So we have this beautiful, even sacral venue, and this incredibly heavy, dark headliner, and the rest of the party flows from the interaction between the two.”

You Want It Darker will start at 8:30 p.m. in the old church hall at 441 Rubidge Street, accessed via the entrance off of Kirk Street. An onsite bar will serve drinks through the night, with music winding down by 1 a.m. 

“I’ve been joking to people that this isn’t gonna be a fun party with bright colours and pop remixes and smiling faces,” said Minthorn. “Instead this is gonna be a party for cranky adults with jobs and problems who want to stomp hard, get sweaty, have a good time having a bad time, and then go home to bed at a reasonable hour.”

Admission is $30. Learn more or purchase tickets on the event page.

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Theatre Guild brings a little bit of Oz to Wonderland

The Peterborough Theatre Guild will present the musical Dorothy In Wonderland from November 29 to December 8. Although matinee performances are nearly sold out, lots of tickets remain for evening showings. 

The musical follows what happens when the characters from the film The Wizard of Oz and the book Alice in Wonderland are brought together. The heroines of the two stories, Dorothy and Alice, both find themselves trying to escape Wonderland after Dorothy and her friends from Oz are whisked there by a tornado.

“What I look for in a play for a children’s production is to be able to involve as many young people as possible,” said director Sarah Rogers, noting that this show gives more than 20 kids and about fifteen adults the chance to showcase their talents on stage. “The other thing that drew me to this play in particular is that these are two classic stories that kids are very familiar with.”

Dorothy In Wonderland features singing and dancing, colourful set pieces, and laughs for the whole family. “I would say that you have to listen carefully for a lot of the adult humor that the kids might not catch,” she said. “And I think that the kids will just love the upbeat music and watching the characters come to life.”

Show information and tickets are available at the Peterborough Theatre Guild website.

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Looking for something to do this weekend?

• Tonight, Friday, November 29, Tapeworm will present a free movie night screening of the 1984 comedy classic Rhinestone starring Sylvester Stallone and Dolly Parton. Doors open at 6:30 and the movie starts at 7 p.m. in the Sadleir House media room. Free popcorn will be served and guests have a chance at taking home free giveaways after the film.
  
• Ball Pit Improv is back tonight from 8 to 10 p.m. at The Theatre on King, with two comedic teams competing for the most laughs from the audience. Tickets cost $20 at the door with an option to pay what you can.
  
• On Saturday, November 30, the Peterborough Singers will present its annual Yuletide Cheer concert at Emmanuel United Church, accompanied by the Venabrass ensemble and Syd Birrell on the organ. Musicians will perform familiar Christmas favourites and the concert will include opportunities for the audience to sing along. Tickets cost $40, or $10 for students, and the concert will begin at 7 p.m. 
• Bar 379 will host a free Ho Ho Homo Men’s Dance this Saturday, November 30. Dancing starts at 10 p.m., with music provided by DJ Jeffary Fudge. Everyone is welcome and the event will feature new drink specials at the bar.
  
• Sunday, December 1, Santa will be at The Venue for a festive breakfast buffet and storytime event. From 9 to 10 a.m., families can enjoy a meal together, followed by a story, then photos with Santa and Mrs. Clause. This is a free event, but pre-registration is required.
  
• Hope Abides, a multicultural, multi-faith gathering for those who have experienced any kind of loss, will take place online and in-person at St. James United Church at noon this Sunday. The Oasis, The Abraham Festival, and St. James United Church have partnered to create this free special service. Coffee, tea, and snacks will be available following the event.

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