Providence — Kingston Theatre Alliance

At the Binnington Court entrance to the K&P Trail is an information sign explaining that the trail is named after the Kingston and Pembroke Railway (known locally as the Kick and Push). On the back is a photograph of a small work crew, including three men, and surprisingly, seated before them, a young girl. Musing on who these people were, and why the photograph was taken—was the beginning of the play Providence.

The play is set in Summer 1875, the day before the railway opens. The cast of five includes three men, a girl, and the mother of two of the men. Like most of the workers who built the K&P, the men are poor immigrants from Ireland and Scotland. And like many immigrants to Canada, they have an equivocal relationship with their past lives. Trouble from “the old country” is making their new home dangerous.

While almost all of the K&P railway itself is long gone, within Kingston there is one short stretch of the original tracks at Hickson and Hagerman Avenues. It is here that Providence is staged on the 150th anniversary of K&P’s opening.

Location: K&P Trail near Hagerman Ave.

Note: As this is an outdoor performance, we recommend preparing accordingly. If a show needs to be cancelled due to inclement weather, ticket holders will be contacted regarding next steps. Ticket holders will be emailed with additional travel, parking, and location information in advance of their show time.