DUCKS by David Heyman

08/26/2025

After a successful opening week at the Victoria Fringe Festival, Ducks will return to the stage on Aug. 29th, and here is what people are saying…



Handmade Ivy Stage and Screen Intrepid Theatre David Heyman Danielle Christina Ryan Kniel Francis G. Matheu Sarah Heyman

08/24/2025

Pick of the Fringe voting is open!

Show your support by voting for Ducks in the Favourite Comedy category.

To vote visit https://intrepidtheatre.com/festivals/fringe-festival/2025-pick-of-the-fringe/

08/09/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BjBjYtgki/

Folks, here's a great deal!
Melissa Blank and I have teamed up to put on our Victoria Fringe Festival shows back to back at the same facility -- the James Bay United Church.
It's an excellent way to see both shows on the same day.
On Friday evenings, DUCKS by David Heyman goes first at 7 p.m. followed by Useless at 8:30 p.m.
On Saturday evenings, Useless goes first at 7, Ducks is at 8:30.
On the Sunday matinees, it's Ducks (2 pm) then Useless (3:30 p.m).
You can park in James Bay, see the first show, then go for a snack and/or a beverage at the Red Barn Market across the street, then return for next show about a half hour later.
Both shows will run less than an hour.
What a deal! Amiright?
But wait, it gets even better. Those who see both shows on the same night will get the highly coveted Useless Ducks button (see image) to wear proudly during the Fringe. Impress your friends and family while being the envy of your colleagues! And enjoy the two best shows at the Fringe! All in the same night! What a bargain!
Tickets for Ducks https://tickets.intrepidtheatre.com/event/909:238/
Tickets for Useless https://tickets.intrepidtheatre.com/event/909:239/

08/08/2025

The month of August marks the arrival of the Victoria Fringe Festival—and with it, a season of vibrant, thought-provoking storytelling.

Coming up…

DUCKS
By David Heyman | Presented by Handmade Ivy Stage and Screen | Direcred by Francis G. Matheu

Synopsis:
A political communications professional has thirty minutes to prevent a PR disaster that could ruin his career before it even begins. Witty, fast-paced, and full of tension, Ducks is a race against time with everything on the line.

Showsdates:
August 22 & 29, 7:00 PM
August 23 & 30, 8:30 PM
August 24 & 31, 2:00 PM

Venue:
James Bay United Church (511 Michigan St.)

Tickets are available through:
https://tickets.intrepidtheatre.com

See attached posters for more details.

Please note that Fringe Buttons are required to see the shows at a very low cost. For more information please visit
https://intrepidtheatre.com/festivals/fringe-festival/tickets-passes/

Please spread the word and hope to see you at the Fringe!

06/29/2025

And now I'd like to introduce to everyone Danielle Greschner, who will play Kaylee in my play Ducks at the Victoria Fringe Festival this summer.

Ducks is Danielle’s first Fringe show and she couldn’t be more thrilled. After playing an intellectually inferior maid in Ravenscroft (Langham Court Theatre), she is excited to bring a more competent and conniving character to life as Kaylee. Other past roles include Janet Weiss in The Rocky Horror Show (VOS), Beauty in St. Luke's Players’ Beauty & the Beast panto, and Mrs. Salt in W***y Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (Four Seasons Musical Theater).

When not on stage, Danielle works as a high school science teacher and is the published author of satirical sci-fi novel, Out of Tune.

Thanks for joining the show, Danielle!

06/28/2025

I'm delighted to announce that Ryan Kniel has agreed to take on the role of Mitch Lafleur in my play Ducks at this summer's Victoria Fringe Festival.

A graduate of the UVic Phoenix Theatre program, some of Ryan’s recent credits have included Much Ado About Nothing (Greater Victoria Shakespeare Festival), Sisters (Theatre Inconnu), and his one-man show TOO BAD. You can see
him in the upcoming werewolf western High Moon (31 Iguanas) this October.

It's great to have you aboard, Ryan!

06/21/2025

I'm so proud to introduce to everyone the woman who'll play Grace in our production of Ducks at the Victoria Fringe Festival -- Gloria Snider!

Gloria has been involved in community theatre in Victoria since 1990 and worked with many theatre companies. Some favourite roles over the years include Frau Schneider in Cabaret for V.O.S, Jenny Diver in Three Penny Opera for Four Seasons Musical Theatre, Vita Louise Simmons in Harvey and Ana in The Clean House at Langham Court Theatre, Da in Trad and Alice Madden in Age of Arousal for Theatre Inconnu.

She was most recently seen as Mrs. Nurmi/Queen Maeve in Queen Maeve at Theatre Inconnu.

Welcome to our show, Gloria!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1JCAh6qNwA/

I'm so proud to introduce to everyone the woman who'll play Grace in our production of Ducks at the Victoria Fringe Festival -- Gloria Snider!
Gloria has been involved in community theatre in Victoria since 1990 and worked with many theatre companies. Some favourite roles over the years include Frau Schneider in Cabaret for V.O.S, Jenny Diver in Three Penny Opera for Four Seasons Musical Theatre, Vita Louise Simmons in Harvey and Ana in The Clean House at Langham Court, Da in Trad and Alice Madden in Age of Arousal for Theatre Inconnu. She was most recently seen as Mrs.Nurmi/Queen Maeve in Queen Maeve at Theatre Inconnu.
Welcome to our show, Gloria!

06/18/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19BmR3vjw8/

I'm delighted to announce that Lorene Cammiade has agreed to reprise her role as Pam in my play Ducks that will be performed at the Victoria Fringe Festival this August. And she's returning in spite of the fact I cut her "favorite line" from the show! (It's not cut for sure -- we'll see!) Despite having played a civil servant in "real life," she happily has little in common with her character, except perhaps for their shared taste in fashionable footwear! Lorene has performed in many roles in various local companies, most recently Susan in "Bed Among the Lentils" (Attitude Theatre), Helen in "Leipzig" (Bema Theatre), and Siobhan in "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" (Theatre Inconnu).
We're lucky to have you back, Lorene!

06/16/2025

And now, let me introduce you to the woman who's going to run my play at the Victoria Fringe this year --

Andrea Gregg!

Andrea is excited to be stage managing "Ducks" at this year's Victoria Fringe Festival. Previous credits include An Inspector Calls (Stage Manager) and Ravenscroft (Assistant Stage Manager).

When not stage managing, they can often be found painting the stage with light at community theatres around Victoria. Appreciation goes to the team—both behind the scenes and onstage—for their trust, patience, and collaboration in bringing this play to life.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1FbC3J5ZrE/

06/14/2025

Ladies and Gentlemen, I introduce to you the director of Ducks at the Victoria Fringe Festival this year -- Francis G. Matheu!

Francis is an emerging Filipino theatre artist from Manila. He debuted as a director/actor in North America with Theatre Inconnu’s production of Pepe in 2023. In the Philippines, he was deeply involved in Manila’s dynamic theatre industry, collaborating with notable companies. Francis’ extensive background includes appearing in over 50 plays and musicals and directing (or choreographing) 15 cantatas, 11 plays, and 11 musicals including Grease, I Love You, Because, Children of Eden, The Wedding Singer, Lysistrata, A Christmas Carol, and Dancing Lessons.

Francis co-founded Twin Bill Theater in Manila in 2013 serving as its Managing and Artistic Director/Producer until 2021.

In Victoria, Francis directed Now and Then (Langham Court Theatre,) Animal Farm (Lawyers On Stage Theatre Society,) and Vinegar Tom (Phoenix Theatre). He was co-creative collaborator for the Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria’s production of im:print 2024 and was Assistant Director of Much Ado About Nothing (Greater Victoria Shakespeare Festival,) Misery (2023) and Hedda Gabler (2022 Blue Bridge Repertory Theatre.) He appeared in Blue Bridge Theatre’s The Shop Around the Corner in 2024.

Francis was Intrepid Theatre and Puente Theatre’s ConVerge 2024 artist in residence. He is a co-artistic collaborator for the Bayanihan Creative Collective and a board member of Theatre SKAM, Between Words Theatre, and The Greater Victoria Theatre Collective Association.

Francis was one of the 30 cohorts in the 2025 Directors Lab North in Toronto and will be one of the five participants in this year’s Arts Leadership Training Program of Cset URegina in partnership with Persephone Theatre and the Belfry Theatre.

Francis is committed to advancing his career in Canadian mainstream theatre- pushing artistic boundaries to engage a broader international audience while contributing to the ever-evolving Canadian theatre landscape with his Asian artistic perspective.

Francis holds an MFA in Directing from the University of Victoria.