JayWalking Guelph Celebrates 6 years!
In 2017 JayWalking Guelph had just completed writing and directing, “Guelph In Postcards – The McCrea Years” for Guelph Museums Backyard Theatre Project. It was through this project that Jay’s interest in Guelph’s history was born and as an actor, he began exploring other ways he might bring Guelph history to life.
Guelph is unique in that it was a “planned city” and while the Canada Company had all the terrible attributes of colonialism, Guelph’s Founder and Agent of the Canada Company was of a different mind. John Galt was a playwright, novelist, and poet and there are indications that he saw the future of Guelph very differently than his Canada Company contemporaries. Some even say his generosity and sense of fairness was the reason behind him being fired from his role as a Canada Company agent.
A community thrives when local citizens take an interest in local stories and newcomers discover the beginnings of the community where they now live. Citizens celebrate accomplishments and come to terms with past mistakes. A sense of place develops, and it is through this common bond that problems are faced head on and solutions created. Storytelling is powerful stuff.
In addition to empowering citizens, street theatre draws visitors. We don’t often think of Guelph as a tourist destination, yet when citizens have company over they love to share their enthusiasm about their city with friends and family and lately JayWalking Guelph’s audiences have been a mix of locals and visitors, some from other parts of Ontario and several from other countries. Local history makes for a wonderful visitor experience, especially unusual tales told where they happened. It is one of the reasons JayWalking Guelph reaches out to conventions and groups through the Guelph Pass program developed by the Guelph’s newly branded tourism department.
JayWalking Guelph performs one-man shows and other tours that have little to do with Guelph history but the first tour, Gwelf Early Days is a celebration of Guelph, its history, both good and bad, and a window into the lives of citizens from the 19th century. Guelph's beautiful limestone architecture and the mighty Speed River create the perfect setting to echo the words of local poets, news journalists, and diary writers.. While on this tour, those of us who live here come to realize just how fortunate we are to live in Guelph.
This 90 minute, easy paced, walking tour has been described as a moving theatrical journey, and to celebrate the sixth anniversary, JayWalking Guelph is offering 60% off the Thursday June 6 performance of the Gwelf Early Days Tour. The $25 ticket is only $10.
Eventbrite Tickets here or call 519 820-3269 or email jay at jaywalkingguelph@gmail.com to reserve.
Prepare to be transported, and thank you Guelph for 6 wonderful years as we head toward Guelph’s Bicentennial coming up in 2027.
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