The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

24 Artscene · FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2009 Musical tells the story of those forgotten by history widowed with eight children and another on the way. OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Homechild -- The Musical tells the story of Hilda's journey. This is the Year of the Home Child and The names are changed in the show for to mark the important tribute, West End the family's privacy, but the story is their Studio Theatre (W.E.S.T.) is presenting Homechild -- The Musical at Sheridan own. "It basically starts in Cardiff, Wales and Theatre from July 16-25. it presents the happy famThe story of home chilily they were a part of, and dren is unknown to most at the turn of the century, Canadians. there weren't the social Between the 1860s and programs to support 1930s, Britain sent more women and children, so than 100,000 of its povertythat's where things take a stricken children and big turn," said Perkins, orphans to Canada to help who was raised in populate the new Oakville. Dominion and provide a "It covers quite a span, young workforce. from 1913 to about 1925, While it was expected so you see a different era that these children would when you start the play lead better lives in Canada, and then you move into many were placed in the Roaring Twenties." orphanages, where they Hilda did not reveal A NUMBER: Hilda Williams in often suffered hardship and 1907 on the day she entered an that she had been a home abuse. Barb Perkins, the play- orphanage in Canada and was child to her extended famassigned a number. ily. She passed away in the wright and composer of mid-1970s, taking her secret with her. the musical, wrote the show based on the Perkins only learned of her grandmothlife of Hilda Williams, who was her grander's story years later from her mother. mother and a home child. Perkins, a former music teacher, worked Hilda and three of her siblings, aged six on the musical while she was taking care of to 10, were taken from their home near her eldest daughter, who suffered severe Cardiff, Wales and sent to Canada in 1907. Their father, Robert Williams, had been brain damage from meningitis in the early killed while working as a dock worker the 1980s. See Unconditional page 25 year before, leaving her mother, Lewsia, By Tina Depko MICHAEL IVANIN / SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER PLIGHT OF THE HOME CHILD: James Westell and Alison Castle rehearse for the upcoming debut of Homechild -- The Musical produced by West End Studio Theatre (W.E.S.T.) at Sheridan College. The show is written by Oakville native Barb Perkins based on the life of her grandmother, Hilda Williams, who was a home child. 3 FREE performances for the whole family! AUTORICKSHAW TRIO Saturday, July 18 at 7 p.m. SNUGGLES! LITTLE BIG FROG THE SATURDAY NIGHT Saturday, August 22 at 7 p.m. FIESTA & CARNIVAL Saturday, September 26 at 7 p.m. All shows are approximately one hour in length and will be held at Town Hall, South Atrium,1225 Trafalgar Road. So bring blankets, cushions to sit on and enjoy these shows with the whole family. Spaces are limited! Please call 905-815-2021 and leave your name and number of family members. For more information, visit www.oakvillecentre.ca