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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2018-6-28, Page 12PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 2018. Lions to host event with Blyth Olympian Peters Olympian Blyth native Justin Peters has had an interesting hockey career, playing in the 2014 IIHF World Championship, in the NHL, and, earlier this year, winning a bronze medal for Canada in South Korea. The Olympian will be signing autographs at a special event on July 15. (courtesy photo) Rural story `Judith' opens at Festival What happens when a young woman says goodbye to the city and returns to the country to risk it all on her own barn of sows? This summer the Blyth Festival is putting just such a heroine front and centre in Judith: Memories of a Lady Pig Farmer opening this Friday. Based on the novel Judith by Aritha van Herk, this play was adapted for stage by playwright Heather Davies with music by Davies and Murray Foster. The story follows Judith Pierce, a young woman and only child of a pig farming couple. The year is 1972, and despite her parents' pleadings to stay and take over the family farm, Judith wants none of it. The young woman longs for the bright lights and glass towers of city life. But when the big city turns out to be something she never anticipated, and her parents suddenly die, Judith is faced with a choice. Using her inheritance to buy a patch of land and a barn full of sows, she does everything in her power to make it on her own, and rediscovers the true meaning of home. The play marks the return of director Jennifer Brewin, who previously directed Dreamland and Two Brothers for the Blyth Festival. "This novel was written in 1976 and yet all the issues it highlights remain incredibly relevant today: farm succession planning, sustainability and most poignantly, the ever-changing and ever -vital role of women on the farm," says Gil Garratt, artistic director of the Blyth Festival. "All of those issues are central to this moving story of one woman's journey into adulthood, her growing understanding of the importance of community, and then we've woven in some live music, a couple of good fight scenes and the arrival of piglets" he said. While researching, the team made multiple visits to a handful of local female pig farmers and barns, learning first-hand the techniques of everything from small community - supported agriculture organic farms, to state of the art highly automated barns. The female pig farming community has been hugely generous and welcoming of these enterprising artists. Judith: Memories of a Lady Pig Farmer is performed by Georgina Beaty, Graham Cuthbertson, Marion Day, Nathan Howe, Tony Munch and Daniel Roberts. The creative team for Judith: Memories of a Lady Pig Farmer is: Kelly Wolf, set and costume designer; Kaitlin Hickey, lighting designer; Rebecca Everett, sound designer; Anita Nitoly, fight director; Murray Foster, music director; Christine Oakey, stage manager, and Daniel Oulton, assistant stage manager. Reserve your seats for this story by calling the box office at 519-523- 9300, toll-free at 1-877-862-5984 or online at blythfestival.com. By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Justin Peters, the Blyth native who won bronze earlier this year as a member of Canada's Oympic men's hockey team, will be in Blyth on July 15 to spend some time with youth from the area. The Blyth Lions Club will be hosting the afternoon, which invites locals to come and meet Peters just months after he and his team beat the Czech Republic to claim the bronze medal in Gangneung, South Korea. Those attending are welcome to bring their own memorabilia for Peters to sign or the Lions Club will be providing a limited number of photographs for children to have signed as well. Children are also welcome to have their picture taken with Peters at the event. The Lions will also be hosting a hot dog barbecue at the event, which will be held at Lions Park in Blyth. The club will be collecting a goodwill offering with all proceeds going to the Blyth Brussels Minor Hockey Association. After growing up in the Blyth Minor Hockey system, Peters played for the Huron -Perth Lakers before moving on to the Ontario Hockey League, the American Hockey League (AHL) and the East Coast Hockey League before making his National Hockey League (NHL) debut in the 2009/2010 season, playing in nine games for the Carolina Hurricanes. Peters then spent much of the following years in the NHL, playing for the Hurricanes and then the Washington Capitals. He would then return to the AHL with the Hershey Bears before a short stint back in the NHL with the Arizona Coyotes before playing in Europe, first in Latvia and then in Germany. Peters has represented his country on a number of occasions in his younger years before being told that he was on Team Canada's radar late last year when it was determined that NHL players would not be participating in the South Korea Olympics in 2018. He served as the team's third goalie throughout the tournament and spent the final games of the tournament on the bench playing behind Kevin Poulin after top goalie Ben Scrivens went down with an injury. Peters will be at Blyth Lions Park on Sunday, July 15 from 3-5 p.m. with all proceeds from the event going towards the Blyth Brussels Minor Hockey Association. Sew interesting Textile artist Kathy White's work, which is created using coloured yarn, is now on display at the Blyth Festival Art Gallery until July 14. The show, which is called "Every Fibre of My Being", opened alongside The New Canadian Curling Club last Friday. (Shawn Loughlin photo) Keep: up with the latest` agri-businesses and the best of rural living! -Rural Voice TEXAS LONGHORNS JUDITH THE PIG eslNal launches world premiere of Judith: Memories of a Lady Pig Farmer $20 for 12 issues $35 for 24 issues Please make cheques payable to North Huron Publishing Inc. • :N1 Mimed letters reveal highlights avpdd as a FamleWtle orM Jring World Wall The magazine of Agricultural Life www.ruralvoice.ca The Rural Voice Subscribe Today • 413 Queen St., P.O. Box 429 Blyth, ON NOM 1H0 14k } Rediscover what Huron County has to offer. Pick up your free guide to Stops Along The Way and see what's happening in your area! 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