This Flight Tonight
Date: May 27
2:00 pm
- 3:00 pm
Where: Theatre
On the 15th of June 1919, a Sunday morning, the greatest flight of all time came to an end when Captain John Alcock and Lieutenant Arthur Whitten Brown landed their Vickers Atlantic Vimy close to the Marconi Transmitting Station a few miles beyond Clifden, Ireland. The poet Tony Curtis, in poems, stories and flights-of-fancy, tells the heroic tale. In March 1919, a chance meeting at the Vickers factory in Weybridge, Surrey brought together Alcock and Brown. Alcock, the veteran long-range bomber pilot; Brown, the electrical engineer with an extensive, but untested, knowledge of aerial navigation. Aviator and soldier, two brave souls ready to take on Lord Northcliffe's Daily Mail challenge: the first non-stop transatlantic flight from Newfoundland to Ireland. The prize: the glory, the honour, and ten thousand pounds. Tony Curtis was born in Dublin in 1955. He studied Literature at Essex University and Trinity College Dublin. An award-winning poet, Curtis has published ten warmly received collections. He has read his poetry all over the world to great acclaim. In May of this year, his latest book This Flight Tonight - a book that celebrates the lives of Alcock & Brown and their incredible flight from a field in St. John's, Newfoundland, to a bog in the west of Ireland in June 1919.
Today's Events & Programs
Get hands-on with our province’s plants, animals, and wild spaces at The Rooms with Nature NL!
Nature Nook is a monthly session where you can interact with real specimens like seal pelts, skulls, whale baleen, antlers, moose fur, and a variety of rocks and minerals. Learn more about nature and ask volunteers all your questions about Newfoundland and Labrador’s wildlife.
Cost: Included with admission to The Rooms (Free for Rooms Members).
Step into a world of family fun at The Rooms! Enjoy an afternoon of creativity and connection for the whole family. This month’s activity: ornament making.
Feeling festive? Create two ornaments — one to take home, and one to add to a special holiday tree at The Rooms, on display throughout the season.
Explore The Rooms Giftshop for holiday shopping, grab a treat at the café, and enjoy the building's beautiful decorations.
Don’t miss the Bishop Field School Choir performing in the atrium at 2 pm!
Cost: Included with admission to The Rooms (Free for Rooms Members).
Let your kids dive into a world of creativity while you tackle your holiday to-do list. In this fun and festive workshop, children aged 8–11 will explore the magic of printmaking and craft up to 12 one-of-a-kind holiday cards to share with family and friends.
Highlights include:
- A special visit to the Wooden Santas and The Rooms’ dazzling holiday decorations
- Hands-on printmaking activities—no experience needed
- A cozy hot chocolate break to warm up and recharge
Just bring your holiday spirit—we’ll take care of the rest!
Cost: $40 per person plus HST. 10% discount for Rooms members. Register online or by calling (709) 757-8090.
All workshop materials are included in the cost, but this workshop may get messy—appropriate clothing is recommended.
The Rooms Gift Shop will be open for your holiday shopping experience.
Join the Bishop Feild Elementary Choir as they sing in the season with your favourite holiday songs.
Cost: Included with admission to The Rooms (Free for Rooms Members).
Peoples of Newfoundland and Labrador
Stroll across land and sea, and through time, to meet the peoples who have made Newfoundland and Labrador home for the past 9,000 years.
Each tour is approximately 30 – 40 minutes and is included in the cost of admission. Free for Rooms members.
Please note: this program has been rescheduled from December 3, 2025. To attend this new date, kindly reserve a new ticket. Tickets from December 3 cannot be used.
The 2025 Mummers Festival features a tradition from Christmas’ long past.
Actors, folklorists, dancers, musicians, and community members join forces in “The Spirit of Mummering,” a collective project presenting the traditional Newfoundland Mummers Play.
Come for the play, learn some traditional Newfoundland dances, and enjoy music by local musicians. Join us as we explore a whole other side of Newfoundland mummering!
Cost: Free. A ticket is required. Reserve your seat online or by calling (709) 757-8090.
This program is presented in partnership with the 2025 Mummers Festival. For more information about festival events, visit www.mummersfestival.ca.