Longlisted for the Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour
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, Stuart MacPhail–who also happens to be Marlene’s ex-husband–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 the 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!
About the Author
Mark Crawford‘s plays include New Canadian Curling Club, Stag and Doe, Bed and Breakfast, The Birds and the Bees, and Chase the Ace, as well as a play for young audiences, Boys, Girls and Other Mythological Creatures. Mark’s plays have become some of the most frequently produced plays in Canada, and have been performed across the country, often breaking box office records. As an actor, he has performed on stages across the country. Mark grew up on his family’s farm near Glencoe, Ontario, studied theatre at University of Toronto and Sheridan College, and now lives in Stratford.
