It’s one of the biggest stories in the history of South Western Ontario. Literally.

Tony Munch (Matthew Scott) and Lucy Meanwell (Annie Jones). Photos by Terry Manzo
From playwright Sean Dixon (The Wilberforce Hotel, Lost Heir) comes the story of one of the biggest names in show business, the one, the only, Jumbo the Elephant.
In the early fall of 1885, P.T. Barnum’s Greatest Show on Earth toured South Western Ontario, playing to sold out crowds. On the bill, among the snake charmer, the aerialists, the tightrope walkers, the contortionists, and the famous bearded lady, Annie Jones, were 28 elephants led by the world renowned Jumbo.
Between their stops in Guelph and London, Barnum’s circus played the bustling railroad city of St. Thomas, Ontario to standing ovations. But on that fateful night, when the circus cars were being packed back up, an unscheduled freight train, travelling unbrakeably fast through the railyard, ended the career, and the life, of the biggest superstar in the world.
A cast of larger-than-life characters, including PT Barnum himself, Matthew Scott the elephant trainer, the Bearded Annie Jones, and a world-famous taxidermist, fill this riveting play that brings a Jumbo-sized Ontario history to life, memorializing the legendary final performance of the most famous pachyderm the world has ever known.
Creative Team
Playwright SEAN DIXON
Director GIL GARRATT
Circus Master MANON BEAUDOIN
Set & Costume Designer ERIC BUNNELL
Lighting Designer LEIGH ANN VARDY
Sound Designer & Composer DEANNA H. CHOI
Puppet Designer & Constructor GEMMA JAMES-SMITH
Production Stage Manager HEATHER THOMPSON
Assistant Stage Manager KATERINA SOKYRKO
Cast
PETER BAILEY Shadrach Meshach and Abednego (Shack) Martin
KURTIS LEON BAKER Butcher’s Boy
JULIE TAMIKO MANNING Nala Damajanti
TIFFANY MARTIN Henrietta Ward
MICHAEL McMANUS Charles Tripp
LUCY MEANWELL Annie Jones
TONY MUNCH Matthew Scott
DON NICHOLSON PT Barnum
MARK SEGAL Juan A Caicedo and Debous the Butcher
“Your story-telling was masterful. I wept most of the way home (an hour’s drive back to Kincardine) as I re-played the story in my mind. The tale of Jumbo captured and unleashed the angst and grief I have felt for a long time now over how we humans are treating the other inhabitants who share this beautiful planet of ours…Jumbo will be for me, one of Blyth’s jewels, over our many (+20) years of attending.” ~ Janice McKean, Blyth Festival Member
“It is always a pleasure for us to attend the opening of Blyth Theatre and more so this year with the dinner and the new play Jumbo, a unique creative experience telling the sad, poignant story of what happens when we displace beautiful creatures from their natural habitat. The creative depiction of Jumbo with puppetry was inspirational and real, along with the circus characters who had an emotional attachment to this large animal. One could feel the sadness of Jumbo and his yearning for his tribe. A tearful moment …Our continual admiration for the Blyth Theatre company, your creative courage, bringing unique contemporary stories to the stage with expressive humanity.” ~ Isobel and Robert Smith, Blyth Festival Members
Colleen Jordan, co-owner of Hotel Lux in Blyth, shares her enthusiasm for the play in this short video.
Production Co-Sponsors
Media Sponsor:
Play Showings
Wednesday | June 12, 2019 | 8pm | BUY TICKETS |
Thursday | June 13, 2019 | 8pm | BUY TICKETS |
Friday | June 14, 2019 | 8pm | BUY TICKETS |
Saturday | June 15, 2019 | 2pm | BUY TICKETS |
Saturday | June 15, 2019 | 8pm | BUY TICKETS |
Tuesday | June 18, 2019 | 2pm | BUY TICKETS |
Wednesday | June 19, 2019 | 2pm | BUY TICKETS |
Thursday | June 20, 2019 | 2pm | BUY TICKETS |
Friday | June 21, 2019 | 8pm | BUY TICKETS |
Tuesday | July 2, 2019 | 8pm | BUY TICKETS |
Wednesday | July 3, 2019 | 2pm | BUY TICKETS |
Thursday | July 4, 2019 | 2pm | BUY TICKETS |
Saturday | July 6, 2019 | 8pm | BUY TICKETS |
Sunday | July 7, 2019 | 2pm | BUY TICKETS |
Tuesday | July 9, 2019 | 2pm | BUY TICKETS |
Thursday | July 11, 2019 | 8pm | BUY TICKETS |
Friday | July 12, 2019 | 8pm | BUY TICKETS |
Saturday | July 13, 2019 | 2pm | BUY TICKETS |
Tuesday | July 16, 2019 | 8pm | BUY TICKETS |
Wednesday | July 17, 2019 | 2pm | BUY TICKETS |
Thursday | July 18, 2019 | 2pm | BUY TICKETS |
Saturday | July 20, 2019 | 8pm | BUY TICKETS |
Tuesday | July 23, 2019 | 2pm | BUY TICKETS |
Thursday | July 25, 2019 | 8pm | BUY TICKETS |
Friday | July 26, 2019 | 8pm | BUY TICKETS |
Saturday | August 10, 2019 | 8pm | BUY TICKETS |