Theatre by the Bay Announces Award-Winning Comedy Troupe Sex T-Rex Returns with Swordplay as Feature Production of the Barrie Theatre Festival June 4–13, 2026

Barrie, ON — Theatre by the Bay is proud to announce that acclaimed Toronto-based comedy company Sex T-Rex will return to Barrie at the Five Points Theatre as the feature lead production of the 2026 Barrie Theatre Festival with their smash-hit comedy, Swordplay: A Play of Swords, presented by A. Jones Wealth and Estate Planning. Fresh off multiple award-winning runs across Canada, Swordplay: A Play of Swords is a high-energy, swashbuckling adventure comedy — a loving parody of classic sword-fighting tales, retro fantasy, and iconic storytelling. Blending the spirit of The Princess Bride, The Three Musketeers, Game of Thrones, The Legend of Zelda, and Final Fantasy, the production delivers a fast-paced theatrical experience where no plot is left untwisted, no villain unstabbed, and no chandelier unswung. Critics have praised the production as: "★★★★★ Sheer, unrelenting comic force" — CBC "Inspired, imaginative and first-rate comedic theatrical magic." — My Entertainment World "Live theatre with something everyone secretly wants: a video game on legs, with references they can't fail to get." — 12th Night Swordplay has received major recognition on the national festival circuit, including: Winner, Just For Laughs Best Comedy Award (Montreal Fringe); Winner, Atlantic Fringe Best Comedy; Winner, Pick of the Vancouver Fringe; Winner, BC Touring Council Award. The ensemble behind the production, Sex T-Rex Comedy, has also been widely celebrated for its dynamic performance style, earning: Winner, Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding Ensemble and Winner, Broadway World Award for Best Ensemble. "We are thrilled to welcome Sex T-Rex back to Barrie with their award-winning production," says Glenn Coulson, Executive Producer of Theatre by the Bay. "Swordplay is exactly the kind of bold, high-quality, audience-driven work that defines the Barrie Theatre Festival — it's smart, it's hilarious, and it's an unforgettable night at the theatre." Al Jones of A. Jones Wealth and Estate Planning shared: "Supporting a production like Swordplay is an exciting opportunity for us to align with excellence, creativity, and community engagement. Theatre by the Bay continues to raise the bar, and we are proud to be part of bringing this calibre of performance to the Barrie Theatre Festival." Kathleen Trainor, Executive Director of Tourism Barrie, adds: "The Barrie Theatre Festival continues to grow as a signature cultural experience for our city and visitors alike. Productions like Swordplay bring energy, humour, and national-calibre talent to our downtown, supporting local business and strengthening Barrie's reputation as a vibrant arts destination." Following the success of Crime After Crime (After Crime), Sex T-Rex returns with what has become one of their most beloved and in-demand productions. Created and performed by Sex T-Rex: Conor Bradbury, Julian Frid, Lowen Morrow, Seann Murray, and Sharjil Rasool. As the feature lead production of the festival, Swordplay anchors the 10-day event at the Five Points Theatre and will be prominently showcased across all festival marketing, media, and audience engagement initiatives. The Barrie Theatre Festival, presented by Tourism Barrie, runs June 4–13, 2026, bringing together an exciting lineup of professional productions, emerging voices, and nationally recognized artists for a dynamic celebration of live theatre. Tickets are now available at: www.theatrebythebay.com Patrons are encouraged to secure tickets early, as demand is expected to be high. Additional programming announcements will follow next week.