Meet the Authors: Joel Thomas Hynes and Susie Taylor
Date: Jun 26
7:00 pm
- 8:00 pm
Where: Theatre
Join us for an engaging discussion featuring Joel Thomas Hynes and emerging author Susie Taylor. Hynes, renowned for his groundbreaking debut "Down to the Dirt", will provide insights into his journey depicting gritty, street-level life, while Taylor will delve into her new book of linked short stories "Vigil," delving into similar themes of societal struggles in decaying urban centres.
This is a free program but tickets are required. Reserve your free ticket online or by calling (709)-757-8090.
About the Authors:
Joel Thomas Hynes is a Canadian writer, actor and director known for his irreverent, oftentimes dark and uproarious characters and a raw, unflinching vision of modern underground Canada. His 2017 novel We'll All Be Burnt in Our Beds Some Night won the Governor General's Award for English-language fiction and the Winterset Award and was longlisted for the Scotiabank Giller Prize.
Susie Taylor (she/her) is a queer writer living in rural Newfoundland. Her first novel, Even Weirder Than Before, was published in 2019 by Breakwater Books. Taylor’s short stories have appeared in Geist, Prism International, The Fiddlehead, Room Magazine, Riddle Fence and elsewhere. Taylor lives in Harbour Grace, NL, with her partner, dog and four cats. When she isn’t writing, she is out running.
Presented in partnership with Breakwater Books. Books will be available for sale in The Rooms Giftshop.
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.