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
Trent Valley Archives Theatre is excited to return for 2026 with "The Kid from Simcoe Street", a poignant, coming-of-age story about retired Ontario Superior Court Justice and prolific poet James Clarke, who grew up on the wrong side of the tracks in Peterborough, ON, during the Depression and Second World War.![]()
![]()
This hometown production begins next week and runs through the weekend June 4 - 7, 2026. Ticket sales help to support the Trent Valley Archives. ![]()
![]()
Get your tickets now before it's too late at tickets.markethall.org/simcoe26![]()
![]()
Sponsored by The Gardens Peterborough and kawarthaNOW.com .
Meet the behind the scenes team of The Kid from Simcoe Street! Today, we're continuing to share the biographies and headshots of our Kid from Simcoe Street behind the scenes team. 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.![]()
![]()
COSTUME ASSISTANT | Carlee Pringle: Carlee is 18 and in Grade 12 at Adam Scott Collegiate Vocational Institute. She has loved theatre her whole life, taking on acting roles in her school plays. This is her first backstage job and she is so excited to experience more in the world of theatre. ![]()
![]()
SOUND AND MUSIC DESIGN | Suzanne Gagné: Suzanne is a retired elementary school teacher who has long aspired to be involved in theatre. This is her first taste of theatrical life and she is very excited to be involved. In her spare time she plays the drums and trumpet and is a member of the Peterborough New Horizons Band and Friends in Music. Suzanne is also an avid cruiser.![]()
![]()
See Carlee and Suzanne's efforts come to life 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
Thank you to PtboCanada for coming to our Canterbury Gardens performance of The Kid from Simcoe Street!
Yesterday (May 28), the cast and behind the scenes team of "The Kid from Simcoe Street" packed up their 1940s era costumes and props and headed to Canterbury Gardens for a special performance for Gardens Retirement Living residents. The residents enjoyed an abridged version of the play, which took many of them back to their own childhoods, reminding them of what it was like to grow up in wartime, a difficult period for the Clarke family and many families. ![]()
![]()
The performance was both an opportunity for the cast to perform the play in front of a small audience of 50 residents and guests, and an opportunity for Trent Valley Archives Theatre to show our appreciation for our returning Platinum Sponsor, The Gardens Retirement Living. We would like to extend a huge thank you to them for sponsoring Trent Valley Archives Theatre for the third year in a row and for bringing the joy of theatre to their residents. We could not put on our engaging, local history themed productions without their support. We hope their residents enjoyed the show! ![]()
![]()
Both Jordan Lyall Photography and PtboCanada were on hand to take pictures of the performance. We think their photos perfectly capture the spirit of this year's production, and are sharing some of them with you here! If the action in the photos catches your eye, you won't want to miss "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 still available to all four performance dates, and can be purchased on the Market Hall website, here: tickets.markethall.org/eventperformances.asp?evt=526![]()
![]()
[Images Credit: Images 1-3, Jordan Lyall Photography. Images 4-6, David Bui (PTBO Canada)]
Meet the behind the scenes team of The Kid from Simcoe Street! Today, we're continuing to share the biographies and headshots of our Kid from Simcoe Street behind the scenes team. 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.![]()
![]()
BACKSTAGE HAND | Nora Green: Nora loves theatre. She recently performed the role of Citizen 4 in The Emperor's New Clothes (2025) for the Peterborough Theatre Guild. The Kid from Simcoe Street is her first production with Trent Valley Archives Theatre. She is delighted to be working backstage with such a great team of stage hands. ![]()
![]()
BACKSTAGE HAND | Lily Nyboer: Lily is excited to be a part of her first production with Trent Valley Archives. She has loved theatre for as long as she can remember and has enjoyed creating, producing and starring in plays with Showmakers for the past four years.![]()
![]()
BACKSTAGE HAND | Abbigail Myles: Abbigail is excited to be a part of The Kid from Simcoe Street, her first production with Trent Valley Archives Theatre, where she will be helping behind the scenes. A student at St. Peter's Catholic Secondary School, she has previous performance experience through dance and has performed in both Toronto and Peterborough, including at Showplace Theatre. She is looking forward to meeting the cast and getting a behind-the-scenes look at theatre production.![]()
![]()
See Nora, Lily and Abigail's efforts come to life 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