Prime Stock Theatre is kicking off its 2025 season by bringing theatre and curling together.
The Red Deer theatre company is presenting multiple performances of the curling play Hurry Hard at the Michener Hill Curling Club. The first performance on Saturday, Feb. 8 is sold out — there are tickets still available for Sunday, Feb. 9, Thursday, Feb. 13, Friday. Feb. 14, Saturday, Feb. 15 and Sunday Feb. 16.
"We wanted to make theatre accessible and bring community together," said Starlise Waschuk, who serves as co-artistic director of Prime Stock Theatre alongside with Jonas Widdifield.
"Red Deer loves its sports. But there are a lot of athletes and artists who come from Red Deer. I think there are a lot of similarities between theatre and live sports. You're watching something that's happening in the moment, with people who have practised or rehearsed. ... I thought it would be cool to find a play that combines both sports and theatre."
Hurry Hard, written by Canadian playwright Kristen Da Silva, follows the story of a married couple that split up and caused their curling squad to splinter into men's and women's teams. These teams are forced to come together after a medical emergency that has left the men's team short a player on the day of a big regional bonspiel.
A stage will be installed in the lobby of the Michener Hill Curling Club for the "immersive theatre" experience, Waschuk highlighted.
"The Michener curling rink has such a rich history in Red Deer. I went there when I was in middle school and high school. I still do bonspiels there with my friends around Christmastime. It's a cultural hub," said Waschuk.
"You'll be going to the rink to see a show about curling. You're sitting there in the lobby and you'll see us utilize the rink in the background through some windows. ... It's the perfect setting for this play."
Joining Waschuk and Widdifield on stage will be Chris Schulz, Jenna Goldale and Everett Dool.
"The cast is stellar and the play is hilarious," said Waschuk, adding some minor changes were made to make the play local to Red Deer, with the playwright's permission.
After the play, the Michener Hill Curling Club will be open for attendees to try curling.
Next on the schedule for Prime Stock Theatre is a show comprised of two one-act plays at the Scott Block Theatre in early April.
"There are two shows made by local playwrights that have been successes at the (Edmonton International Fringe Festival) and they have never got the chance to be done in Red Deer," Waschuk explained.
"We're going to do two one-act plays in tandem: Thank You for Coming to My TED Talk by Ash Rose and The Thin Grey Line by Blaine Newton. It'll be a quirky show about love and hits the age ranges of 20 to 80."
For more information on Hurry Hard and other upcoming shows, or to purchase tickets, visit www.primestocktheatre.com.