Theo Fleury’s 'Playing With Fire' comes to Regina stage

People in Regina will get a chance to see the amazing story of Theo Fleury’s life play out in front of them on Tuesday.

The former NHL hockey player’s remarkable story is being brought to life by the Persephone Theatre in Saskatoon. Regina’s Globe Theatre is bringing Playing With Fire to Casino Regina from Feb. 21 to March 3.

“I think the first time I saw the play, I was a bit overwhelmed and to see sort of my life being played out on stage like that, it was pretty incredible,” Fleury told the 980 CJME Morning Show.

The play looks at Fleury’s long battle with addiction and dealing with being sexually abused by his former hockey coach Graham James.

“Sexual abuse is probably one of the biggest epidemics we have on the planet,” Fleury said. “For many years we swept the subject under the rug and what Playing With Fire does is that it shows people where you go when these kind of things happen to you. Instead of not talking about them, I think it’s important that we do talk about them.”

He also said there is humour in the play as well.

“Not only are you going through some sadness and anger stuff but there’s lots of funny things in the play and I think that’s what makes this production so intriguing and so amazing.”

Fleury said one of the things he gets excited about is watching the people in the crowd go through their own emotions and reflect on their own lives while watching the play.

“We want to push them right to the very nth degree of their emotions, that’s what making movies and Broadway plays are all about.”

Fleury praised actor Shaun Smyth, who plays Fleury, for his performance.

“He’s done a great job of bringing this story to life with actions and movement and words.”

Fleury said he will be in attendance at Casino Regina for opening night.

— With files from the 980 CJME Morning Show