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The Story of ISOBEL GUNN

The year is 1805.

A young Orkney lass brazenly disguises herself as a boy and is hired on with the Hudson Bay Company.

Their destination – the vast area of wilderness known as Rupert’s Land!

This grueling adventure is brought to life by International Storyteller Deborah Dunleavy. Ms Dunleavy  wrote the libretto when the Canada Council for the Arts awarded her a grant to create "Isobel Gunn". She collaborated with her husband Howard Alexander who scored the original music. This exceptional artistic fusing of talents has resulted in a unique art form of storytelling and opera. Every note and every word  relies on the other.

  In the performance Ms Dunleavy takes on the role of Isobel Gunn in the years between 1805 and 1808, and in the final days of her life some sixty years later. Based on true accounts the piece unfolds as an epic poem crafted by Deborah and set to orchestrated music by composer Howard Alexander.

In 2016 Ms Dunleavy portrayed "Isobel Gunn" in Toronto, Burlington, and At the Words Alive Festival in Newmarket. She toured "Isobel Gunn" to Vancouver Island where it was enthusiastically received by a sold out audience at the MacMillan Arts Centre in Parksville.

Brockville and Area residents will have a rare opportunity to see the production of "Isobel Gunn" on Thursday, October 19 in the sanctuary of Christ United Church, 12 Perth Street in the village of Lyn. Doors open at 6:30pm and the one act performance commences at 7pm. Cost is $15. Following the performance refreshments will be offered as well as an opportunity to meet with the performer and composer. Ms. Dunleavy's books and recordings will be on sale at that time.

Tickets may be purchased in advance. Call Brenda at 613-345-1487 or Deborah at 613-926-5510.

Project description and Bios attached. For more information contact:

Deborah Dunleavy

teller2go@gmail.com