And No Birds Sang

Aaron Macpherson as a young Farley Mowat, about to head off to war. This was a ten-minute play, first performed in Mowat Park at the Port Hope Arts Festival in 2023. The full length adaptation of Farley Mowat's And No Birds Sang premieres at the Capitol Theatre, Port Hope, in August-September 2026, directed by Rob Kempson. 

Farley Mowat’s memoir And No Birds Sang is a moving account of his World War II military career. When war is declared, Mowat is boyishly eager to battle ‘The Hun’. He enlists and eventually sees active service in Europe. As a member of the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment (aka the ‘Hasty Pees’) Mowat takes part in the bitter campaign against Italian and German troops in Sicily. But even as Mowat battles the enemy – and his own demons – there are moments of beauty, humour, camaraderie, and flashes of the human spirit at its best.

And No Birds Sang opened in August 2026 at Port Hope's Capitol Theatre. This full length adaptation of Farley Mowat's novel enjoyed a four week sold-out run. Rob Kempson directed. Lighting design by Jeff Pybus. Jeff Newberry created the sound design - with live Foley action from the cast. Meghan Specht stage-managed. Photo by Sam Moffatt. 

Left to Right: Aaron Macpherson, Happy Playwright, Daniel Reale, and Mayson Sonntag