Mar 9

Mar 9 A Story To Tell About Africville

Declared Sacred and Holy, “Consecrated Ground,” Debuts at Laurel Mill Playhouse, April 7 & 8

With tremendous wit and gravity, George Boyd’s 1999 play; “Consecrated Ground,” takes the audience back to Africville on the verge of extinction, offering a gift of characters. The Laurel Mill Playhouse will debut “Consecrated Ground,” on April 7 and April 8, both nights at 8:00pm; to tell the remarkable story created by Playwright George Boyd and directed by Lorraine Brooks.

The story takes place in Africville, the largest and oldest black community in Canada was bulldozed into memory. What was lost to the politicians of Halifax was an inconvenience, an eyesore in 1965. But what was lost to the people whose roots ran deep through the once-vibrant community was an entire way of life.

Nova Scotian born playwright and former newscaster Boyd, retells the struggle of Africville’s residents to save their homes and their dignity. With tremendous wit and gravity, Boyd takes us back to Africville on the verge of extinction, making us a gift of characters believable in their vulnerabilities, their courage and their outrage. Boyd died in 2020.

Located in the middle of historic Laurel, the Laurel Mill Playhouse exists to bring live theater to a vibrant and diverse community, foster a creative environment, and help local individuals nurture their talent. The Playhouse is the home of the Burtonsville Players, which has been providing community theater to the quad-county area for more than 50 years.