The Friend Ship is the tale of an extraordinary suitcase that transforms on stage into a friendly pirate ship. The ship's crew includes Captain 5, First Mate Froo, stowaway squirrel Chippy and Morris the Monkey.

In search of Monkey's home island, their sea voyage is filled with fun-loving adventure where the audience is called into action to play the role of friendly pirates. Once their final destination is reached, it becomes clear that Chippy holds the acorn destined to give new life to a treeless island where squirrels can be squirrels and monkeys can dance!

The Friend Ship celebrates self-confidence and care for the earth. Children learn the value of cultivating friends, lending a neighbour a helping hand and seeing challenges through to the end.

Audience may interact with artists and puppets following show!

Audience: Ages 3-12

Group size: 5-200 people

Length: Approximately 45 minutes

For more information and to book this play, please email us at info@suitcasetheatre.com or call us at 647-654-PLAY

About the Actors:

Scott Dermody, Captain 5

Scott is a Toronto-based theatre artist. He is a founding member and Artistic Producer for Soup Can Theatre, whose critically acclaimed inaugural production Love Is A Poverty You Can Sell was selected for an extended run during last summer's Best of the Toronto Fringe Festival. He teaches introductory theatre courses in GTA area schools and recently lead a theatre camp in Vaughan for two years.

Stage credits include: Rome at the AGO (Single Thread Theatre), Love Is A Poverty You Can Sell (Soup Can Theatre), The Soldier's Tale Conversation Series (Open Corps Theatre), Ashes to Ashes (Alumnae Theatre), The Travelling Troupe (FifeHouse Spotlight), Ritual Refuge (SummerWorks Gallery), Veronika Decides to Die (Darkroom Theatre Projects), A Memory, A Monologue, A Rant and a Prayer (VDAY 2008), Everyman (Single Thread Theatre), Variations on X & Why We Float (Queen's Drama), Antigone (Queen's Classics). Scott holds a BA in theatre from Queen's University.

Nicholaas Visscher, Captain 5

Nicholaas is a chipper lad who gained a desire for theatre at a very young age. He would often put together extravagant plays with his big sister and show them for his mother and father. But more often he would do one man shows for his stuffed animals. Since then he has been in many plays, musicals, and even attended the Sheridan College Music-Theatre performance program. He would love to thank his friends and family for all their support, but especially his two nephews: Blaik and Alex (for just being Awesome!)

Anna Wheeler, Froo

Anna hails from St. John's Newfoundland and is currently attending Ryerson University's acting program. She is also a musician: http://radio3.cbc.ca/#/bands/Anna-Wheeler. Many thanks to the whole Friend Ship crew!

Adam Hobbs, Puppeteer

This is Adam's second production with Suitcase Theatre playing the Man All Tattered and Torn in The House That Jack Built. He is featured as Brus in the upcoming release of Utokia, which will be available on CD in the near future. Other selected credits include Basil Hallward in Dorian Gray, Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors (BEST Productions); Mr. Fag in The Rivals (Theatre Sheridan); and Ren McCormick in Footloose (IM Theatre). Adam is a graduate of the Music Theatre - Performance program at Sheridan Institute.

Erin Reznick, Puppeteer

Erin Reznick is a recent St Clair graduate for music theatre performance. She is thrilled to be working with such amazing people at Suitcase Theatre. Thanks to everyone who helped with this performance. Enjoy the show!

Feedback on The Friend Ship

"I was really surprised and impressed by the quality of the songs and music! The Friend Ship was our daughter's first experience at a play and it could not have been a better one! To this day, we still talk about Captain 5 and the whole cast! Thanks Suitcase Theatre!" - Parent

"Froo and Captain 5 were funny and I loved Morris the Monkey." - 3 year old

"What an absolutely terrific time we had at The Friend Ship. The mood was fun and lively and I don't know who had a better time - my kids or me!" - Parent

"Everything from the songs to the cast made this a really great outing for our family. Please let us know when you will be performing again because we'd like to see the show again." - Parent

"This is the kind of show you wish everyone could see! Very fun and completely age appropriate. Great job everyone!" - Parent

"I had the wonderful opportunity of attending an incredible production with my 2.5 half year old daughter on June 25th. It was the first show I took her to and at the start she was quite apprehensive. But the script was written so beautifully that it slowly reeled the kids in one scene at a time. By the end of the show, my daughter could be found close to the edge of the performance space smiling and singing along with the cast. Even once we left she was able to recount the tale and now has a new found love for squirrels. Everyone at the event was so welcoming and I appreciated all of the grass roots elements! I appreciate all of the above as I know what it takes to provide quality theatre! Kudos guys!"

- Parent and Theatre Arts Director