Laura and Samara spend their days as non-profit unicorns and fill every spare minute exploring the world of musical theatre as BFFs (that’s Broadway Friends Forever). Follow @bffs613 on X, Instagram and Facebook.
Seventy-five feet underground, 30 kilometres west of downtown Ottawa, lies a piece of Canadian and world history that many don’t know about—a nuclear fallout shelter now turned museum. The Diefenbunker: Canada’s Cold War History Museum, captures a terrifying and important time in our nation’s and world history and is named for Canada’s prime minister at the time, John Diefenbaker. Ottawa actors Pierre Brault and Peter Haworth want to bring this history to life by interpreting events in an interactive walking play through the museum called Dief the Chief: October ‘62.
Photo by Emily Hobson
In an immersive experience, the audience gets a taste of what life was like in October 1962. We are brought into the possible inner workings and thoughts of PM Diefenbaker and his stances on crucial historical events. He faces tough decisions during the Cuban missile crisis as the cast and audience move their way through the museum and real-life bunker rooms.
Actors Brault and Haworth flawlessly embody the former Prime Minister, military personnel and even a stint as John Kennedy. The story covers a dire time in history, but the actors have brought many moments of fun and comedy to the experience to ease some of those tense moments and fear. With a heavy emphasis on the politics and the tumultuous relationships between leaders, cabinet members and staff at the time, Brault and Haworth have added a strong emphasis on human elements of the story which are the main driver and focus, especially when it comes to the PM’s decision making or arguable lack thereof.
Dief the Chief’s Peter Haworth. Photo by Emily Hobson
A less well-known part of Canada’s history, in a story often driven by the US narrative, you may be surprised at our country’s role in this event. Especially for those of us not from Ottawa, or not alive at the time, the performances bring the time’s politics, fears and emotions to life. For those with a good taste of Ottawa, you will recognize many mentions of staples: Sussex Drive, the CBC and Gatineau Park among many others, which brings home even more how real this time and threat was.
With only a few shows throughout the summer, take your chance to step through a portal in time and go deep underground into a history lesson you’ll always remember.
Don’t forget to build in time to catch the rest of the museum and explore all the Diefenbunker has to offer as same-day admission is included in your ticket price.
Dief the Chief: October ’62 takes place on June 15, July 26 and 27 and Aug. 16 and 17. Shows are one hour long and run at 4:30pm, 6:30pm and 8:30pm. Tickets are $55 and must be purchased in advance. General admission to the museum’s regular hours on the day of the show is included in your ticket price.
.gif)