Trent Valley Archives Hosting Play Adaptation of Former Peterborough Ontario Superior Court Judge's Memoir 'The Kid from Simcoe Street'
/To retell the trials and tribulations of Peterborough in the 1940s and 50s, Trent Valley Archives (TVA) is putting on a fundraising production of Ontario Superior Court Judge James Clarke’s memoirs, ‘The Kid From Simcoe Street,’ at Market Hall from June 4-7.
(From left to right) James Clarke, Author ‘The Kid From Simcoe Street;’ David Clarke, James’s Grandson; R. Kenneth Armstrong, Historian and Murray Byrne. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
Trent Valley Archives received permission to adapt the memoir, with proceeds going to the Archives for book donations to sell.
The 2012 memoirs focus on the trials and tribulations of Clarke and his St. Peter’s Catholic Secondary School football teammate, Murray Byrne, as they grew up poor in post-war Peterborough in the 1940s and 1950s.
Prior to the production, Clarke and Byrne held a Community Reminiscence and Reunion event (hosted by TVA), speaking to an audience about the memoirs at Princess Gardens on Tuesday afternoon.
Byrne currently resides in the Bridgnorth area and with theatre experience, will have a cameo role.
Clarke practised law in Cobourg for many years until his appointment to the bench in 1983. He served on the Ontario Court of Justice from 1990 to 1999 and the Superior Court of Justice from 1999 until his retirement in 2008. He began writing poetry in 1995. He is the author of more than 20 poetry books and received a Horizons of Friendship Founders Award in 2018, ‘for the exceptional strength and commitment they have shown as volunteers and leaders in their communities.’ He has been involved with the Covenant House of Toronto, Plan International Canada, Chalice, Michael House, the food bank and the Welcome Drop-in Centre in Guelph, the city where he now resides.
@ptbo_canada A piece of history is being brought to life by Trent Valley Archives, putting on a production at Market Hall of the memoirs of Ontario, Superior Court Judge, James Clarke in his memoir, “The kid from Simcoe Street” from June 4-7. ##ptbocanada##journalism##fyp##news##dailynews ♬ We Should Stick Together - elijah woods
