At This Hour presented by Zuppa

AT THIS HOUR

On December 6, 1917, in the narrows of Halifax Harbour, Belgian Relief vessel IMO collided with an overloaded French munitions ship, Mont-Blanc. The resulting massive explosion wreaked havoc on both sides of the harbour and left approximately 2000 people dead. One in every fifty Haligonians suffered sight loss as a result of the explosion - it was the largest mass blinding in Canadian history. Within hours of the disaster Ottawa ordered a full investigation and the Wreck Commissioner’s Inquiry began the following week at the Halifax Provincial Court.

At This Hour is a documentary theatre lecture about the Halifax explosion created with and for the Blind/Partially Sighted and Deaf communities. Constructed like an open seminar, the performers are documentarians. Using verbatim text from the transcripts of the inquiry into the explosion, they explore how British imperialism permitted and encouraged the government mismanagement which led to the explosion and the cover ups and scapegoating that followed. The transcripts are a compelling snapshot of an era out of which Halifax is still emerging.

Produced in collaboration with Signs of the Maritimes Deaf Theatre Troupe, At This Hour features a hearing cast and a Deaf cast performing the show simultaneously.

ABOUT ZUPPA

Based in Kjipuktuk / Halifax, we aim to make extraordinary experiences that provoke the consideration of new perspectives and ideas. With each project we attempt to do something we don’t know how to do and work with collaborators who bring new life experiences or skill sets to the table. We make shows for Halifax and for places far away, with the support of The Canada Council for the Arts, Arts Nova Scotia, and The Nova Scotia Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage, and Halifax Culture and Events. Zuppa is a member of Theatre Nova Scotia and an affiliate member of the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres. March 17th 2023 is Zuppa's 25th birthday!