Clinton News Record, 2014-10-15, Page 7Wednesday, October 15, 2014 • News Record 7
Geoffrey Armour
Emily Johnston
Anne Potter
Shawn Van Osch
Home-grown actors return for the Farm Show
Some of Goderich and
area's own home-grown the-
atre professionals are return-
ing to the Livery Theatre
stage for a very special pro-
duction, An Evening with the
Farm Show. The production
runs October 17, 18, 23, 24,
and 25 at 8 pm, and October
18, 19, and 25 at 2 pm at the
Livery Theatre in Goderich,
and features Geoffrey
Armour, Emily Johnston,
Anne Potter, and Shawn Van
Osch.
In 1972, a troupe of actors
from Toronto moved to Clin-
ton and built a play from
who they met, what they
could see, and the lives that
they experienced. The Farm
Show became a renowned
Canadian classic, and the
first example of Canadian
theatre directly inspired by
rural Canadians and written
for rural Canadians.
Emily Johnston, Producer
and one of the ensemble
members, explains the
importance of the show to
Huron County theatre artists:
"The Farm Show really had
international success
because of its unique and
truthful portrait of everyday
life - it's very exciting to be in
a major city, studying thea-
tre, and hear about home,
about places like where Hwy
8 meets Stone School Rd.
Yes, the original production
was written in the 1970s, but
it is such an honest portrayal
of Huron County that we feel
like we know these people."
The original actors and
their production process was
made into a documentary
film by Michael Ondaatje.
The ensemble will be show-
ing portions of the docu-
mentary to give the audience
a full picture of the show,
and a chance to see firsthand
the original performers and
the Huron County people
who provided their inspira-
tion. The ensemble hopes to
bridge the gap between the
generations, connecting the
original artists, modern
actors who weren't even
born when The Farm Show
premiered, and the rural
community, then and now.
"Huron County artists
have such pride in where we
come from," says Johnston.
"This project is an opportu-
nity to show that sense of
pride, to the people who
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helped us get our start':
Geoffrey Armour began
his journey in the theatre
with Peter Pan at the Livery
(1996) and the Blyth Festival
Young Company. He has
studied at George Brown
Theatre School and Lecole
Jacques Lecoq (Paris), and
has performed in Canada,
France, Italy, and South
Korea. Emily Johnston also
got her start in the Livery's
intonnewsrecord.com
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Peter Pan; she graduated
from University of Toronto
and Sheridan College's joint
actor training program, and
works in and around Toronto
as an actor, musician, and
arts educator. Anne Potter
graduated from the Musical
Theatre Performance pro-
gram at Sheridan College,
and performs as an actor in
Toronto. Shawn Van Osch
studied at George Brown
Theatre School in Toronto
and currently seeks out thea-
tre opportunities in his spare
time.
Tickets may be purchased
at (519) 524 6262 or at theliv-
ery.ca. The Goderich Little
Theatre is one of the longest -
running community theatre
companies in Canada, and
has been presenting theatri-
cal productions at the Livery
Theatre since 1983.
For an honest and common sense approach
Re -Elect
Alex Westerhout
for Councillor
Ward 2 (Hullett/Clinton),
Municipality of
Central Huron
• Born and lifelong farmer in the Clinton area
• Served on various boards and organizations as member and chair
If you have any issues with our new telephone/internet voting
ystem, feel free to call me @ 519-525-0406 or the Municipal office
@ 519-482-3997. There is also a Voter Help Centre with voting
space set up at the Municipal Office, 23 Albert St. in Clinton.