Trent Valley Archives Theatre Returning in 2026
June 4, 5, 6 and 7 — A Fundraiser for The Trent Valley Archives at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre, Peterborough. Click here for more information.
The Kid from Simcoe Street
In our adaptation of this moving World War II era memoir, James Clarke recalls growing up in the poor and alcohol-ridden neighbourhood of downtown Peterborough.
As a boy, his father had been a foot soldier, but after coming home from the battlefields he turned to manic drinking and belligerence, shattering his wife’s dreams, and casting a dark shadow over James’ boyhood.
This story, told with emotion that is unflinching in its honesty, lets us see just how remarkable it is that James Clarke became not only a man esteemed and honoured as a judge of the Superior Court of Ontario, but as a respected poet, too.
Purchase your copy from Exile Editions
Have you seen the updated Heritage Gazette?
We are pleased to continue and expand on the pioneering work of archivist Elwood Jones and Steve Gavard as we explore the near and distant past in this full colour publication.
View the current and past issues
Meet the cast of The Kid from Simcoe Street! Today, we're continuing to share the biographies and headshots of our Kid from Simcoe Street cast. Everyone involved in this production has been passionate about bringing the pages of James Clarke's memoir to life on stage, and we’re excited to share their names, faces and stories with you.![]()
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BABE played by Trudy Conroy: Trudy is super excited to be part of her first community theatre production. Trudy was introduced to theatre through Showmakers, a beloved after-school program run by Dreda Blow and Bruno Merz. She loves reading, animals, and playing games and sports with friends and family.![]()
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SHIRL played by Lily Faulkner: Lily is very excited to be in this production of The Kid from Simcoe Street. Most recently, Lily has been in the St. James Players’ production of The Addams Family, The Emperor’s New Clothes at The Peterborough Theatre Guild, and the Trent Valley Archives Theatre production of Crossing Over. Lily is over the moon to be working once again with this amazing crew and new cast. Enjoy the show!![]()
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Don't miss Trudy and Lily in The Kid from Simcoe Street at the Market Hall Performing Arts Centre on June 4 and 5 at 7:30pm and June 6 and 7 at 2pm! Tickets are on sale now at: tickets.markethall.org/eventperformances.asp?evt=526
Meet the cast of The Kid from Simcoe Street! Today, we're continuing to share the biographies and headshots of our Kid from Simcoe Street cast. Everyone involved in this production has been passionate about bringing the pages of James Clarke's memoir to life on stage, and we’re excited to share their names, faces and stories with you.![]()
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PETE played by June Govier: June is making her second appearance with Trent Valley Archives Theatre. She performed the role of Elizabeth in the company’s 2024 production, Tide of Hope. Her acting debut occurred in 2014 at the Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in the play Once Upon A Time. She followed this up by playing Elizabeth Armour in The TVA Little Lake Cemetery Pageant for three consecutive years. June has performed in the yearly Peterborough Winter Solstice Lantern Parade, playing a variety of animal characters. Her stage work also includes parts in Austin and Ally, Matilda, Hercules, and The Wicked Witch of the West in the Edmison Heights production of The Wizard of Oz.![]()
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JOSH/DD POTS played by Kaza Hesselink: Kaza is returning to Trent Valley Archives Theatre for his second appearance on our stage. He performed the role of Tim in the TVAT production of Crossing Over in May 2025. Kaza is a second-year student in the Integrated Arts Program for Drama at Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School. He's been in a variety of productions, such as The Outsiders and Caryl Churchill’s Far Away (The Theatre on King). His goal is to be well-known in the acting community and learn how to do the Charleston. He hopes people stay in good health and have a swell time!![]()
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Don't miss June and Kaza in The Kid from Simcoe Street at the Market Hall Performing Arts Centre on June 4 and 5 at 7:30pm and June 6 and 7 at 2pm! Tickets are on sale now at: tickets.markethall.org/eventperformances.asp?evt=526
It takes a village, and a resilient boy, to go from surviving an alcoholic wartime home on Simcoe Street to a place of honour with the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.
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Don’t miss Trent Valley Archives Theatre’s 2026 production “The Kid from Simcoe Street,” based on the memoir of the same name by James Clarke, at the Market Hall Performing Arts Centre on June 4 and 5 at 7:30pm and June 6 and 7 at 2pm. Tickets cost $40 for cabaret seating and $30 for regular seating and can be purchased by clicking the link in this post.
[Video Credit: Teresa Kaszuba]
Meet the cast of The Kid from Simcoe Street! Today, we're continuing to share the biographies and headshots of our Kid from Simcoe Street cast. Everyone involved in this production has been passionate about bringing the pages of James Clarke's memoir to life on stage, and we’re excited to share their names, faces and stories with you. ![]()
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CHIEF FRAZER/MICHAEL BROWN played by Nathan Govier: Fast becoming a Trent Valley Archives Theatre regular, Nathan performed the role of Patrick Ryan in Crossing Over in 2025 and the role of Lord Kingston in Tide of Hope in 2024 for Trent Valley Archives. Nathan started doing theatre in Peterborough in the 1990s. He was a founding member of the MYOB comedy troupe, performing shows at the Union and the Gordon Best Theatres, including a sold-out election night MYOB comedy show during which he ran for Mayor of Peterborough. Nathan also appeared in several dance shows choreographed by local choreographer Wes “Scooter” Ryan. Since returning to Peterborough, Nathan has performed in Incident On Gun Mountain (2017) and Appropriate Audience Behaviour (2018), both Planet 12 Productions. ![]()
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HANK/ALICE/COACH LYNCH played by Kelly O'Dwyer-Manuel: Kelly is a newcomer to Peterborough's theatre scene, drawing on her years of public speaking and music experience. A marketing leader by day, Kelly most recently participated in the Peterborough Kiwanis Music Festival, where she received two Platinum placements in musical theatre categories. Kelly is supported by her family, including her husband, two sons and her parents ... who have never missed one of her performances.![]()
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Don't miss Nathan and Kelly in The Kid from Simcoe Street at the Market Hall Performing Arts Centre on June 4 and 5 at 7:30pm and June 6 and 7 at 2pm! Tickets are on sale now at: tickets.markethall.org/eventperformances.asp?evt=526
This Sunday, May 24 at 2pm, enter the world of wartime-era Peterborough with historian Elwood Jones on our brand-new "The World of the Kid on Simcoe Street" downtown walking tour! Developed to tie-in to this year's Trent Valley Archives Theatre production, The Kid from Simcoe Street, the tour will explore the unique qualities of the Simcoe Street of Young James' day, and stop at the sites of residences, businesses and other institutions that played a significant part in his upbringing. ![]()
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Although the tour will touch on how the neighbourhood developed since the earliest days of Peterborough, particular focus will be given to how it looked in the 1940s and 50s, when the Clarke family lived in their tenement at 249 Simcoe Street. ![]()
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This is a walking tour that covers several blocks in the downtown core. The tour sticks to the main sidewalks and is on primarily flat ground, but may not be accessible to everyone. Wear comfortable shoes and dress appropriately for the weather, as the tour will run rain or shine. ![]()
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Tickets cost $20 each and can be purchased on Eventbrite, here: www.eventbrite.ca/e/the-world-of-the-kid-on-simcoe-street-tickets-1988579361401?aff=oddtdtcreator... If you can't make it this Sunday but are still interested in joining us on this tour, it will be running again next Sunday, May 31 at 2pm! ![]()
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[Image Caption: A cropped photograph of Simcoe Street, North Side Looking East Between George and Alymer, c. 1890. The Peterborough Lock MFG Co is pictured in the centre, where James' neighbour Jack worked. TVA F50, 2.301.]