Theatre Centre Wellington and Fergus 175 are presenting a special public performance of Something A-boot Fergus, an original play about the founding of the town.
The special free show is scheduled for March 4 at 7pm at Centre Wellington District High School, as a celebration of Fergus’ 175th anniversary.
Researched, written and performed by grade 11 drama students from the school, the play tells the story of the early days of Fergus from the first encounters between French missionaries and the Neutral Nation, through the emigration of the first Scottish settlers inspired by Adam Fergusson, and their encounter with the black settlement of Richard Pierpoint.
The play is a fun, energetic, and modern-styled production featuring Braden Alexander, Becky Branton, Katee Brough, Jordan Dykstra, Ashley Goldsmith, Brianna Hastie, Rachel Lehman, Derek McGill, Alex McGregor, Shannon Rawn, and Mark Snetzko. Live violin music is performed by Genevieve Shave. The show is directed by teacher Glenn McGinnis and produced by Alex Abel.
Commissioned by the Fergus 175 steering committee, Something A-boot Fergus has been performed for school and local audiences, and was featured at the Wellington County Museum and Archives’ recent Heritage Day, where it drew an enthusiastic response from an big crowd in the exhibit hall.
The special public performance is an introduction to a year of events and activities celebrating the 175th anniversary of the town’s founding in 1833. A five-day homecoming-style celebration has been scheduled leading up to Canada Day, featuring a downtown art walk event, Doors Open Fergus, a concert in the park, and more events being planned by a group of volunteers.
Other activities, including a late-fall gala celebration, are in the process of being developed. The 175th anniversary began with a successful First Night celebration New Year’s Eve, which attracted hundreds of people to downtown Fergus to ring in the anniversary year.
