A Field Guide to Rural Living starring Dan Needles & Ian Bell

Event Details

Event type: All Ages / Licensed

A FIELD GUIDE TO RURAL LIVING

Dan Needles and Ian Bell are set to take audiences on a crop tour of today’s rural routes in story and song.

Cities and suburbs are spilling into the Ontario countryside, and a mild disorder is once again making the rounds…rural culture shock. Luckily, it’s easily treated, and as usual, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. To this end Dan Needles and Ian Bell have spared no effort to develop a useful prescription for recent arrivals - and for those who welcome them here - A FIELD GUIDE TO RURAL LIVING - It’s a proven panacea – and it’s very funny.

For 30 years author and playwright Dan Needles has brought to life to stories and characters of his mythical Persephone Township, a fictional rural community two hours north of the big city. Dan is the creator of the beloved Wingfield Farm stage plays, which have appeared at the Stratford Festival, and in virtually every other English-speaking theatre in Canada. These plays were also adapted as a TV series on CBC, Bravo and PBS. Thousands of readers have followed his magazine columns in Harrowsmith-Country Life, Country Guide, Farm Canada and other periodicals.

Ian Bell is a songwriter, storyteller and former community museum curator whose work is rooted in the towns and landscapes of darkest southwestern Ontario. He has released four CDs of original songs and an equal number featuring traditional songs from Ontario. As a broadcaster Ian worked on many occasions with Stuart McLean on CBC Radio’s Vinyl Café, co-writing and serving as musical director for five Vinyl Café national concert broadcasts. For seven years Ian was also a regular contributor to the weekend Fresh Air program on CBC radio.

Together, Needles and Bell make the perfect team for the job at hand – And really, who else would you trust?

Did we mention it’s very funny?

All current Covid protocols will be followed by venue and attendees. By purchasing tickets, you, as an audience member, enter into a social contract with the Waterford Old Town Hall, acknowledging that you will provide scannable proof of vaccination (QR code) at the door, and will wear a mask and distance when necessary/ required.