By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

Red Deer’s Ignition Theatre gets gruesome

Jan 5, 2019 | 9:26 AM

The first prouction from Ignition Theatre in 2019 will celebrate the 10th anniversary of Pulitzer prize finalist Rajiv Joseph’s Gruesome Playground Injuries, which premiered in 2009.

Described as a ‘controversial love story,’ Gruesome Playground Injuries begins Jan. 17 and runs through Jan. 26 at the Red Deer Memorial Centre’s Nickel Studio.

“Gruesome marks Ignition’s return to the provocative and edgy brand of theatre from which our reputation in the community was first formed,” says Director Matt Grue, who notes edgy doesn’t necessarily mean the show isn’t accessible or that it will be gratuitous and offensive.

“Gruesome is an incredibly beautiful and complex examination of mental illness; an examination of pain, both physical and psychological, and our need to inflict pain upon others and ourselves as a means of survival,” Grue adds.

“It’s a love story that desperately struggles to navigate and accept what love truly means. It’s a play full of questions, catharsis, and believe it or not, a deeply dark sense of humour.”

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Gruesome stars Erin Odell (The Shape of Things, Dog Sees God) and Christopher Schulx (The Strapping Young Lads, Proof), and features Starlise Waschuk (Dog Sees God).

Curtain is at 7:30 nightly, and tickets are $20, or $25 for Friday and Saturday performances. They are available online at IgnitionTheatre.ca and at the box office 30 minutes before curtain.

Gruesome is presented with a warning for coarse language, graphic imagery, sexuality and mature themes which may trigger those suffering from mental illness.