Gallery 7 Theatre presents its latest production, The Hiding Place, starting March 14 at MEI Auditorium (4081 Clearbrook Rd.).
The Hiding Place, adapted by Timothy Gregory from the book by Corrie ten Boom with John and Elizabeth Sherrill, tells of ten Boom’s post-war mission to bring healing and forgiveness to victims of the holocaust, and how her mission reaches a crisis point when she faces the man who turned her and her family in to the Nazi police during the war.
What follows is a recounting of the ten Booms’ work with the Dutch underground to hide Jews in a hidden room above the family’s watch repair shop and their subsequent internment in a concentration camp.
Wrestling with her own emotional scars, ten Boom must come to terms with her need to forgive in this grim yet beautiful story that celebrates faith, mercy and courage.
Gallery 7 Theatre’s production, which will be the Canadian premiere of Timothy Gregory’s adaption, features 23 performers from across the Fraser Valley and is the largest cast ever assembled in the company’s 23-year history.
Playing the role of Corrie ten Boom is Carol Heynen, while her sister Betsie is played by Shelley Picard and her father, Casper, is played by Glen Pinchin. The remaining performers, often playing multiple characters, are: Andrew Abrahams, Tracey Anderton, Pat Davis, Tamara Charman, Kenzie Hall, Melissa Franson, Joel Loeve, Megan Mackenzie, Cameron Mckerchar, Danielle Milette, Chloe Picard, Maryjane Sexton, Forest Shuster, Thomas Smith, Brittany Suderman, Tim Warkentin, Elisa Weber, Doug Wickers, Becky Wiebe and Michael Witmer.
Taking the director’s chair is Sarah Hu, whose other directing credits with Gallery 7 Theatre include Sense and Sensibility, The Family Man and Steel Magnolias.
The Hiding Place runs March 14 and 15, 20-22 and 27-29 at 7:30 p.m. with discount matinees on March 15, 22 and 29 at 2 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at House of James at 2743 Emerson St. (1-800-665-8828 or 604-852-3701) or online at gallery7theatre.com.