Compelling story of the Newfoundland Regiment’s fallen heroes

Compelling story of the Newfoundland Regiment’s fallen heroes takes the stage at the Canadian War Museum

From every cove and town, from fishing stages to merchants’ homes, boyfriends and husbands, fathers and sons marched off to the Great War, proud members of their very own regiment. As they travelled to dangerous and distant lands, they were never without the spirit and humour of their homeland. On July 1, 1916, nearly 800 of them rose from the British trenches at Beaumont-Hamel in France and advanced straight into the German line of fire.

By the time the battle was over, nearly 700 of them were dead or wounded, including all the officers. Hardly a family or community back home was not affected by the tragedy.

“Most Canadians think of July 1 as a day to celebrate, but in Newfoundland and Labrador, it’s also known as Memorial Day, the day in 1916 when the best and brightest of a generation were virtually wiped out on the battlefields of France.” says Joe Geurts, Director and CEO of the Canadian War Museum. “No Man’s Land depicts why that fateful morning had such a lasting impact on the collective psyche of Newfoundlanders.”

No Man’s Land, written by Kevin Major and directed by Donna Butt, begins at daylight on June 30, 1916 amidst uncertainty about what the Regiment will have to face the following morning. As the soldiers march overland, into the trenches and into the battle itself, the audience shares the camaraderie of army life, the tensions between men of different backgrounds and ranks, the memories of home, the men’s doubts and courage, and their hopes for the future if they survive the war.

The Canadian War Museum is the last stop on the No Man’s Land tour of Ontario and the Maritimes, following a six-season run at Rising Tide Theatre’s home base in Trinity, Newfoundland.

WHAT: No Man’s Land
WHERE: Barney Danson Theatre, Canadian War Museum
WHEN: Wednesday, April 25 at 7 p.m.; Friday, April 27 at 8 p.m.; and Saturday, April 28 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. (in English only)
COST: Adults $30, seniors $25, youth $15, children $10, families $80 (4 people, max. 2 adults). Discounts applicable for members.

Tickets are available at the Museum Box Office or by calling 819 776-8600 (service charges). Presented by Rising Tide Theatre.

The Canadian War Museum
The CWM attempts to help all Canadians understand Canada’s military history in its personal, national and international dimensions. It emphasizes the human experience of war to explain the impact of organized human conflict on Canada and Canadians past and present, and how, through war, conflict, and peace support operations, Canadians have affected, and have been affected by, the world around them. Special exhibitions and programs also explore non-Canadian and general themes related to the human experience of war and the subject of armed conflict, past and present.

The playwright – Kevin Major
Born in Newfoundland in 1949, Kevin Major has written 15 books for both young people and a