Complimentary play and historic room tour paying tribute to one of Canada’s Fathers of Confederation
(Cobourg, ON) August 1, 2018 – The Town of Cobourg encourages citizens to attend a new one-act play, James Cockburn: Confederation presented by the James Cockburn Society as part of the 20th anniversary of James Cockburn Day.
The new play is about Northumberland’s Father of Confederation and First Speaker of the House of Commons and will take place in front of Victoria Hall at 55 King Street West on Saturday, August 4 at 11 a.m. in front of Victoria Hall. A special second performance will take place at the Sifton-Cook Heritage Centre at 114 Orr Street on Monday August 6 at 11 a.m., which is officially James Cockburn Day.
Written by local journalist and historian Robert Washburn, the play is set on Dominion Day, July 1, 1867. Cockburn is preparing for the celebration in front of Victoria Hall where he will read Queen Victoria’s official proclamation. The script draws from historic accounts of the day for an entertaining and historically accurate performance.
“I was inspired by the Canada 150 celebrations last year to write a new play. Rob Franklin and I spent time in the archives and library looking up information about the first Dominion Day, which would later become Canada Day,” said Robert Washburn. “There was great attention paid to incorporating as many details about the celebration in Cobourg to paint a picture for the audience of what actually took place. It was also important to portray Cockburn during a period in his life when he was active, unlike the other play where it is at the end of his life. He is coming off of a major political battle that began at the Quebec Conference in 1864 and took three years to complete. He is about to reach his political zenith in a few weeks when he will be elected the first speaker of the House of Commons. It is an exciting time.”
Rob Franklin, Manager of Planning Services for The Town of Cobourg, will reprise his role as the Honorable James Cockburn, Northumberland County’s Father of Confederation and the First Speaker of the House of Commons. Franklin has delighted audiences for the past 10 years playing the role in the original James Cockburn: Historical Reminiscences. Franklin has taken part in an annual event in cooperation with the Cobourg Public Library at Victoria Hall for local school children each February, as well as making personal appearances and speaking engagements in character for local groups and special events.
“It is refreshing to have a new play to perform,” said Franklin. “We get a chance to see Cockburn as an active politician preparing to deliver an important address to the residents of Cobourg on the very first Dominion Day. While the other play reflects on Cockburn’s life, in this play, we see him as a vibrant man emerging from the success of Confederation following a tough battle.”
A graduate of the prestigious Upper Canada College, James Cockburn was the Member of Parliament of West Northumberland, a well respected speaker of the House of Commons, held a successful law practice in the Town of Cobourg and was one of Canada’s founding fathers. In recognition of James’ contribution to both the Town of Cobourg and Upper Canada, in 1997 Rob Washburn successfully approached Cobourg Town Council to rename the Civic Holiday in Cobourg to the James Cockburn Day. Since 1998, on the Civic Holiday the Town of Cobourg pays tribute to James Cockburn and travels back in time through the enactment of The Life and Times of James Cockburn.
For more information on James Cockburn Visit the James Cockburn website at honourablejamescockburn.ca, look for James Cockburn Society.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
