By Adam Frisk Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Haliburton Highlands Secondary School students are set to bring Ray Bradbury’s classic dystopian tale Fahrenheit 451 to life.
Next week, Grade 11-12 drama students are set to take the stage to tackle the iconic 1953 novel, which still resonates with generations 70 years later. For drama teacher Meghan Mardus, choosing the production for 2026 was about providing a relevant reflection of the current times.
“This story is 70 years old, and Bradbury has managed to create something that has resonated in every era. The themes of fascism, of anti-intellectualism, of the importance of reading, the rise of technology, feelings of detachment and isolation and loneliness, the need for human connection, the need for storytelling,” Mardus told The Highlander. “These are all things that are extremely applicable now. And my thought as a teacher was wondering whether the students would pick up on it the same way students in past generations would have.”
And it seems that Mardus’ students have picked up on the somewhat heavy themes of the book and adapted stage play.
“At first I was a little skeptical because normally we do comedies and stuff like that here,” Trevin Bain-Gross explained. “I didn’t know how it would be doing a more dramatic, serious play, but now I’m really enjoying it.”
The student plays the lead role of protagonist Guy Montag, a fireman whose job was to burn books. However, the character begins to doubt the censorship of his futuristic society. And that’s something that Bain-Gross said he can connect with in the 2026 digital age.
“The reason everybody stops reading books and they become illegal, is leisure. Nobody cares about books anymore. There’s TV walls… You can just say hi to your family across the country in your living room. But you don’t have to do that,” the student said. “It’s a lot of shortform content, kind of like how TikTok and Instagram reels are. I’ve actually found that after reading this and playing the character, I’ve found a newfound love of books for myself.”
Sophie Lee, a student who plays a variety of roles on both sides of the issue, also drew parallels to today’s time.
“I think that the play really kind of shows like an exaggerated version of what could happen because we are so reliant on technology,” she said. “A lot of things that are more slow, like reading books or just spending time with people without technology, has kind of become lost.”
While the young actors grapple with portraying their roles, there’s a dedicated production crew working to bring the magic to the stage. Fallon Thorn, who manages costumes, props, and set transitions, said there are a lot of moving parts to the production.
“Taking the big couch off has definitely been a feat,” she said, describing a scene that takes place in Mrs. Hudson’s house. “Taking the couch off and then putting the new couch and sofa in is going to take a minute or two.”
As for the special effects, Mardus remained tight-lipped on how the team plans to bring the story to life but promised a “layered” visual experience.
When asked to sum up the show in just three words, students described the experience as “exciting” to “enlightening,” and even “eye-opening.”
The production of Fahrenheit 451 will take place at the Northern Lights Performing Arts Pavilion on April 30, May 1, and May 2 at 7 p.m. The entry fee is a recommended donation of $11, but all donations are welcome. Due to the mature themes, the play is recommended for those 13 years or older.
Mardus encourages the community to come out to support the arts and drama class. “I think people won’t expect a high school class production to be as good as this is going to be,” she said.
