"Consecrated Ground" by George Boyd

A New York Premiere Reading of his highly acclaimed play!

Initiated by Virginia Roncetti
Directed by Kathy Gail MacGowan

Featuring: Donte Bonner*, Daniel Carlton*, Marjorie Johnson*, Trish McCall*, Jasmin Norwood*, and Adam Segaller*, Kim Sullivan*, and Anne Fizzard*

Consecrated Ground was a finalist for a Governor General's Literary Award of Canada.

About the Play:
In 1965, Africville the largest and oldest Black community in Canada, older than Canada itself, was bulldozed into memory. This Halifax, Nova Scotia community was composed of about 40 families, and at any given time up to 600 people. It was originally settled by black refugees of the War of 1812, and subsequently,by those receiving land grants from heads of state including Queen Victoria.

The city of Halifax historically neglected Africville until it became viewed by City Hall as an eyesore and a shantytown. Rather than providing running water, sewers, a fire department and easy access to electricity to the community, the city relocated the city dump, an abattoir and a prison adjacent to Africville, ultimately declaring it unsanitary, bulldozing it, and relocating the residents to public housing. It remains a sensitive and contentious issue today.

CONSECRATED GROUND resurrects Africville at that very moment that the residents struggled to save their homes and dignity.

George Boyd, one of a family of nine, was born and raised in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. This award-winning playwright has had his plays produced to both audience and critical acclaim. Plays include Shine Boy, Gideon’s Blues and Consecrated Ground for which Mr. Boyd was nominated for a Governor General’s Literary Award. His Wade in the Water, was nominated for a MECCA, (Montreal English Critics Circle Award). Mr. Boyd is currently at work on a sequel to Consecrated Ground called Circle in the Square. He resides and works in Montreal.