Up Your Game
"Up Your Game" opened the 2026 Victoria One Act Play Festival to a full house and resounding acclamation.
James Fergus, a polished city councillor, lives alone in his ocean-view home, estranged from his wife and daughters who have grown weary of his controlling ways. Into his ordered life storms Rebecca Morey, a young, hungover journalist — and daughter of Marlene, the woman James loved and abandoned decades earlier.
Rebecca arrives ostensibly to share memories of her recently deceased mother, but her motives soon turn darker. What begins as awkward reminiscence unravels into an emotional reckoning: accusations, revelations, and the exhuming of old letters filled with lust, regret, and unfinished forgiveness. Rebecca weaponizes Marlene’s words, exposing James’s youthful chaos and hypocrisy, while revealing her own lifelong scars — a childhood overshadowed by her mother’s addiction, activism, and self-destruction.
Through their verbal sparring, it becomes clear that both are haunted by Marlene: James by guilt, Rebecca by loss and confusion over the woman she both adored and resented. Their confrontation spirals from bitter sarcasm to near-violence before settling into uneasy understanding, as each begins to glimpse the pain beneath the other’s armour.
Credits
Created by - Peter Campbell
Written by - Peter Campbell
About the Artist
Peter Campbell, president of Gumboot Productions, has been producing drama and documentary films for international television for over thirty years. His first foray into theatre was directing at the Edmonton Fringe Theatre Festival. "Up Your Game " is the first play written by Mr. Campbell, who was delighted to have it chosen to open the 2026 Victoria One Act Play Festival at the Belfry Theatre.
https://gumbootproductions.ca
Accessibility
Content warnings: Coarse language; Adult themes; Mentions, themes, or depictions of substance use; Brief physical violence and mentions of substance abuse.
Sensory warnings: None.
Know before you go, learn about this venue with our Venue Guide.
For more accessibility information see the Accessibility at the Fringe page on our website.
Important Fringe Information:
You must have a Fringe Button to see this show. You can purchase your Fringe Button online or at the Intrepid Box Office. Online purchases can be picked up at the venue of your show.
100% of tickets are available in advance, no tickets reserved for door sales.
All tickets have a $3.00 Fringe service charge and passes have a $5 Fringe service charge, this supports the festival.
No refunds. No exchanges. If you are unwell contact the box office (tickets@intrepidtheatre.com).
All shows will admit latecomers at an appropriate moment for up to 10 minutes after the start of the show.
-
Event Types - Drama
-
$0.00 -
August 27, 2026-September 1, 2026 -
37 minutes -
Haus of Owl -
SITE C -
Ages 16+ -
Content warnings: Coarse language; Adult themes; Mentions, themes, or depictions of substance abuse; Brief physical violence. Sensory warnings: None.
