Grosse Île Bilingual Musical Drama Opening Soon

Memorial for the Irish immigrants on Grosse-Île, c. 1909. Source: Library and Archives Canada, MIKAN: 3193141

Movement of people is not just a phenomenon of this century. People have been moving to North American shores for centuries. While the dominant history remains confined to English and French immigrants, Irish refugees took shelter on the shores of New England, and Canada starting the early 18th century.

Concordia’s Oscar Peterson Hall, with support from Concordia’s School of Irish Studies will be hosting the play by John Halpin, Margaret Forrest and Hubert Radoux based on the tragedy on Grosse Île in 1847. Grosse-Île: The Musical; une histoire chorale, aims to be a moving rendering of a rich and transformative chapter in Canadian and Quebec history. In 1847, immigrants traveled across the ocean from Ireland to get away from the potatoes famine and find a better life. With 30 choristers, seven soloists and three musicians, all dressed in vintage costumes, the show aims to take us back centuries to a world that will bring insight into migration, the pain and its perpetual sense of hope that keeps people going.

This bilingual musical will play at October 27, 28 and November 2 and 4th at 8 p.m. There will also be afternoon performances on October 29th and November 5th at 2 p.m. There is a dress rehearsal on this Sunday October 22nd, 2017 at 2 p.m. at Concordia University’s Oscar Peterson Concert Hall 7141 rue Sherbrooke Ouest, Montréal, QC, H4B1R6. For tickets: https://lepointdevente.com/billets/grosse-ile27