Tough Guy by Hayley Moorhouse

Tough Guy follows a group of friends as they navigate the aftermath of a shooting at Aria, a queer nightclub. They’re all nursing wounds, visible and invisible, and are thrown into further turmoil when their friend Emerson, a rising star in the independent film scene, comes back home to film a documentary about the shooting. How do we go on when the unthinkable happens? What does it mean to point a camera at a catastrophe? How does queerness endure, time and time again? Winner of the 2025 Westbury Family Fringe Theatre Award and the 2025 Alberta Playwriting Competition, Tough Guy is at once an excavation of a tragedy and a celebration of the tenacity of queer joy. It’s gripping, visceral, sometimes hilarious, sometimes heartbreaking, always unapologetic. Accessible Performance Information available soon. Check http://www.fringetheatre.ca for details. Age Rating: Parental Guidance (14+) – the yellow light – parental discretion advised This show contains: adult language, adult content, death, drugs/alcohol, homophobic and transphobic violence, gun violence, violence CAST Mel Bahniuk Michelle Diaz Jasmine Hopfe Marguerite Lawler Autumn Strom CREATIVE TEAM Playwright/Producer – Hayley Moorhouse Director – Brett Dahl Dramaturg – Evan Medd Stage Manager – Jess Haight Production Manager – Liv Bunge Set/Lighting Designer – Lieke den Bakker Sound Designer – Kena León Projection Designer – Ian Jackson Persistent Myth Productions engages professional Artists who are members of Canadian Actors’ Equity Association under the terms of the INDIE 3.0. Venue Accessibility Information: General Fringe Theatre Accessibility Information can be found here: https://www.fringetheatre.ca/values/accessibility/ Backstage Theatre Accessibility Specifications: – Box office and entrance to the theatre is outside and on the north side of the Fringe Theatre Arts Barns. – If coming from the west side of the building there are rail tracks on the path to the theatre. There is also a small lip in the concrete in front of the venue. Both should be approached with care. – Main entrance to the theatre is accessible, with a 32” width clearance. – Reserved accessible seating is available in the front of the risers, or, in some configurations, at 29” high cabaret tables. – Gender inclusive washrooms are accessible and have clearance for a 32”w x 32”h chair. – Washroom signs have braille. – The theatre is air conditioned. – Chairs: the chairs have arms and some padding. Chair measurements: depth 17.5 inch by 17.5 inches wide, and height (floor to seat): 18.25 inches. – Chairs without arms are available on request. Accessible Performance Information available soon. Check http://www.fringetheatre.ca for details.