Vancouver audiences are in for a high-stakes laugh this September as Duck Duck Moose makes its debut at the Vancouver Fringe Festival with a playful spin on Netflix’s Squid Game.
The mostly-improvised show takes one unsuspecting audience member from their seat and thrusts them into the centre of a satirical survival contest. Surrounded by a troupe of “players,” the chosen hero must navigate children’s games gone wrong, alliances and betrayals, and outlandish Commedia dell’Arte villains—all while deciding what it truly means to be a hero.
Performances run September 5–14 at The Improv Centre on Granville Island, with six shows scheduled as part of the annual Fringe lineup.
Guided by an ominous host, the story unfolds in real time, with cast members subtly steering the participant-hero through absurd and often hilarious twists. At the climax, the hero faces a final moral dilemma: walk away empty-handed to end the games for good, or take the money and perpetuate the system of suffering. But, true to improv tradition, there’s one last surprise that blurs the line between stage and reality.
With a cast of ten diverse performers, Duck Duck Moose blends satire, physical comedy, and audience interaction in a high-energy hour of theatre. Beneath the laughter, the show nods to deeper themes—the widening wealth gap, the illusion of choice, and the corruption of power—delivered with a uniquely Canadian sense of playfulness.
Duck Duck Moose promises to be one of the more adventurous entries at this year’s festival, inviting audiences to laugh, cheer, and ponder what makes a true hero.
Last modified: August 19, 2025
