Emmett Tinning – Contributor

On April 26, 2025, Sonoma (my delightful friend and roommate), Danny Boy (our very large cat) and I packed ourselves into a car, and headed east. The school year just having come to an end, the three of us were on our way to Prince Edward Island for the summer job of a lifetime; performing in Anne and Gilbert The Musical (well… two of us were performing, and Danny boy was along for the ride). 

Photo courtesy of Anne and Gilbert The Musical

Running from May to October, Anne and Gilbert has been a summer tradition on Prince Edward Island for more than 20 years. The 2025 season was my first year with the show, and Sonoma’s second. The story, familiar to many, follows the plots of L.M. Montgomery’s Anne of Avonlea and Anne of the Island, the second and third books respectively in the Anne of Green Gables series. Anne, having finished her schooling in Avonlea, navigates a new chapter of her life as a teacher in the very school she attended as a child. The show continues to follow Anne to Redmond University, accompanied by a few familiar friends and countless new ones. 

To many, Anne’s antics and the accompanying classic cast of characters are a quintessential piece of Canadian childhood. Through Anne and Gilbert, these nostalgic stories are brought to the stage with just as much wonder, joy and heart as the novels. On the other hand, audiences with little or no knowledge of L.M. Montgomery’s work (or the Anne stories at all) leave the theatre with full hearts and a picturesque view of island life. 

The creative team works incredibly hard to put on such a memorable show, both on and off stage. From the lovely folks on the costume and props team to our wonderful director, Wade Lynch, the stage management and tech, front of house, choreographers, musicians and actors, every person involved has an inspiring and infectious passion for theatre. 

P.E.I., being only about 5600 square kilometres, traveling around the island was easily accessible and incredibly worthwhile during our time off. From breathtaking red rock cliffs and ocean views to bustling nights of live music and dancing in Charlottetown and Summerside, not a day went by that we weren’t entranced by what the island has to offer. Visiting places like the Confederation Centre for the Arts, Green Gables Historic site, Prince Edward Island National Park, and the countless lighthouses offered an invaluable perspective on Canadian arts, history and, pivotally, culture. 

The summer flew by in a blur of dancing, singing and excitement. Sonoma and my time on P.E.I. were not only an incredible experiential learning opportunity, but a rewarding and refreshing chance to do what we love in an environment full of supportive and passionate individuals. I can’t express in words how grateful I am for the people and places that made the summer so memorable, as well as the countless unforgettable experiences that taught me more than I could have ever imagined.