About the Play
“I want everyone to know that anything is possible. That’s why we wrote a play – so that people will see my life from a completely different perspective. It’s a story of survival, and overcoming amazing obstacles.”
– Theo Fleury
This powerful one man show tells the inspiring story of how Theo Fleury beat all odds to become an NHL star. Playing in over 1,000 games and scoring over 1,000 points, Fleury won a Stanley Cup, an Olympic gold medal with Team Canada.
Based on the best-selling biography. Playing With Fire a national best seller for 52 weeks. It’s a story of redemption that chronicles Theoren’s childhood of poverty, sexual abuse in junior hockey, becoming an NHL star and then blowing a $50 million fortune on booze, drugs, gambling and strippers. Theoren came through the other side to tell the tale and to help others It is the universal tale of the triumph of one man’s spirit, a hero’s journey.
Shaun Smyth delivers a fantastically absorbing one-man performance on skates. The set is an onstage hockey rink and there is a sophisticated video and sound design in support. It’s a wonderful combination of crazy stories, laughs and powerfully poignant moments, brought to life in a superbly realized technical production. There are countless iconic hockey moments in the play that will be instantly recognizable for fans of the game.
Playing With Fire premiered at Alberta Theatre Projects in 2012 and, to date, has earned rave reviews and wowed theatre goers and hockey fans in Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Hamilton, Montreal and Halifax. The show is available for presentation in theatres across Canada and the USA.
Playing With Fire is a triumph of one man’s spirit!
Awards & Nominations
CALGARY CRITICS AWARDS
WINS
BEST SOLO PERFORMANCE –Shaun Smyth
BEST DIRECTOR- Ron Jenkins
BEST PRODUCTION OF A PLAY
NOMINATION
BEST DESIGN- David Fraser
BETTY MITCHELL AWARDS
WINS
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A DRAMA- Shaun Smyth
OUTSTANDING SET DESIGN- David Fraser
OUTSTANDING DIRECTION- Ron Jenkins
NOMINATIONS
OUTSTANDING SOUND DESIGN- Matthew Skopyk
OUTSTANDING NEW PLAY–Kirstie McLellan Day
OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION OF A PLAY
EDMONTON STERLING AWARDS
NOMINATIONS:
Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role- Shaun Smyth
Outstanding Director- Ron Jenkins
Outstanding Production of a Play
Outstanding Set Design- David Fraser
Outstanding Lighting Design- David Fraser
Outstanding Multi-Media Design- Corwin Ferguson
Outstanding Score of a Play or Musical- Matthew Skopyk
SASKATCHEWAN THEATRE AWARDS
WINS
Outstanding Production
Outstanding Set Design- David Fraser
NOMINATIONS
Outstanding Leading Performance- Shaun Smyth
Outstanding Sound Design, Composition- Matthew Skopyk
Canadian Production History
2011-2012 Season
Alberta Theatre Projects, Calgary
2014-2015 Season
Citadel Theatre, Edmonton
Prairie Theatre Exchange, Winnipeg
2015-2016 Season
Persephone Theatre, Saskatoon
2016-2017 Season
Theatre Aquarius, Hamilton
Persephone Theatre, Saskatoon (remount)
Globe Theatre, Regina
2017-2018 Season
Centaur Theatre, Montreal
2017-2018 Season
Neptune Theatre, Halifax
2018-2019 Season
Sudbury Theatre
2020 Season
Mayfield Theatre, Edmonton
