Bluebirds Brings Three Canadian Nurses’ First World War Story to Peterborough Theatre Guild
/By Scott Arnold
Three Canadian nurses find friendship, love and moments of humour while caring for wounded soldiers in France during the First World War.
Emily Kelly, Laura Lawson and Rebecca Birrell star as the three Canadian nurses at the centre of Bluebirds. (photo courtesy of the peterborough theatre guild, via jordan lyall)
The First World War is often remembered through the stories of soldiers who fought on the front lines, but there were also thousands of women who served in the middle of the conflict.
Their experiences are at the centre of Bluebirds, Vern Thiessen’s acclaimed Canadian drama being presented by the Peterborough Theatre Guild this fall.
Set in Étaples, France, in 1918, the play follows Christy, Maggie and Bab, three Canadian nurses working with wounded soldiers during the final year of the war.
While their days are shaped by the realities of war, the women develop a close friendship and find moments of humour and companionship amid the strain of their work.
Their conversations and letters home reveal the lives they left behind. Maggie thinks about the love and life waiting for her at home, Christy struggles with the expectations surrounding her marriage and Bab hopes to find the connection and future she longs for.
Through their individual stories, Bluebirds looks at the choices these women faced and the space between duty and desire, friendship and loneliness, memory and hope.
It also brings attention to women whose experiences during wartime have often received less attention in the historical record.
The play was written by Vern Thiessen, whose work has earned some of Canada's major theatre honours, including the Governor General’s Literary Award for Drama. Bluebirds also received a development workshop from Theatre New Brunswick in 2020 before its first performance there in October 2022.
Director Bea Quarrie leads the Peterborough Theatre Guild’s production of Vern Thiessen’s Bluebirds. (photo courtesy of the peterborough theatre guild, via jordan lyall)
The Peterborough Theatre Guild production is directed by Bea Quarrie and produced by Diane Théberge, with Rebecca Birrell, Laura Lawson and Emily Kelly portraying the three nurses.
Bluebirds runs at the Peterborough Theatre Guild Mainstage from October 30th to November 14th, with performances at 7:30pm and matinees at 1:30pm on October 31st, November 1st and November 8th.
The production runs 90 minutes with no intermission and is recommended for ages 16 and older. It contains themes of war, injury and loss that may be emotionally affecting for some viewers.
Bluebirds has been praised by critics, including The Globe and Mail, which called it “A Victory of a Play,” and BurlingtonToday, which described it as “a powerful and moving… truly Canadian play.”
The production team includes Stage Manager Lyn Braun, Set Designer David Geene, Sound Designer Esther Vincent, Projections and Lighting Designer Nate Axcell, Costume Designer Gwen Hope, Hair and Makeup Designer Hayley Griffin, and Assistant Directors Kory Gavin and Francine Kelly.
The artwork for the Peterborough Theatre Guild’s Bluebirds was created by local artist Taylor Polley. (photo courtesy of the peterborough theatre guild, via jordan lyall)
