New Canadian Curling Club, The

A Chinese medical student, a Jamaican Tim Horton’s manager, an Indian father of three, and a 17-year-old Syrian refugee walk into a curling club. It’s Monday night at a small-town rink and it’s the first-ever Learn to Curl class for new Canadians. Inspired by the local refugee resettlement program, community-minded Marlene organized this evening to welcome newcomers and “diversify the club”. But when she slips on the ice and breaks her hip, the club’s ice-maker–who also happens to be Marlene’s ex-husband–Stuart MacPhail is forced to step in as head coach. Trouble is, Stuart has plenty of opinions about immigrants. What follows is the hilarious and inspiring story of a group of unlikely athletes who face off against local prejudice and become a true team. Both laugh-out-loud funny and quietly moving, The New Canadian Curling Club is a new Canadian comedy with a heart as big as Canada itself!

AUTHOR

Mark Crawford

Mark Crawford is an actor and playwright. His plays Stag and Doe, Bed and Breakfast, and The Birds and the Bees are published by Scirocco Drama. All three of these plays have been seen on stage from coast to coast. His latest play, The New Canadian Curling Club, premiered at the Blyth Festival in 2018. As an actor, Mark has performed with theatre companies across Canada. He grew up on his family’s farm near Glencoe, and he now lives in Stratford.

Reviews

“Achieves what may seem the impossible task of portraying its serious subject realistically and yet being warmly funny at the same time.” (Stage Door)

“Using an ancient sport, which itself was a recreational immigrant, to examine an issue as urgent as today’s headlines is effective and persuasive. And it’s laugh-out-loud funny. Damn funny!” (Reid Between the Lines)

“On matters of laughter and identity, The New Canadian Curling Club is on the button. (London Fuse)