FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Lighthouse Festival Presents the World Premiere of Secret Service by Ephraim Ellis

May 29, 2026 | Port Dover ON – Espionage, pasta, and absolute chaos are all on the menu as Lighthouse Festival launches Secret Service, the third production of its 2026 summer season and a hilarious new Canadian world premiere by playwright Ephraim Ellis.

Running July 8 to 25 at Lighthouse Theatre in Port Dover and July 29 to August 9 at Roselawn Theatre in Port Colborne, Secret Service is a fast-paced comedy that blends the high-stakes energy of Mission: Impossible with the culinary chaos of MasterChef Canada.

Set inside Toronto’s swankiest Italian restaurant, Secret Service follows Harry Marsden, an eager young waiter who unknowingly stumbles into a covert international spy operation happening right in the kitchen. As undercover agents attempt to carry out a top-secret sting using marinara sauce as camouflage, Harry’s optimism and complete lack of awareness threaten to derail the entire mission.

“This play is outrageously funny,” says Interim Artistic Producer David Leyshon, who also directs the production. “Ephraim has taken the spoof-spy genre and crafted it through a uniquely Canadian lens. Wildly theatrical, with characters straight out of both James Bond and Get Smart, the play is fast-paced, clever and delightfully unpredictable. Audiences are going to laugh from start to finish.”

Leyshon adds, “One of the most exciting things about presenting a world premiere is that audiences are seeing something brand new for the very first time. There’s an incredible energy that comes with discovering a play together in the theatre.”

For playwright Ephraim Ellis, the production is both a love letter to classic spy thrillers and a celebration of Canadian comedy.

“I had a full set of vintage 007 VHS tapes I played ad nauseum throughout my teenage years. I saw Mission Impossible II (widely regarded as one of the lesser entries!) in theatres four times. Action-packed espionage is a genre I’ve loved and immersed myself in my whole life – it’s been a dream to write something in that vein, even if this outing is significantly sillier than most. Also, and this may come as a shock… but like most actors, playwrights, and other creative professionals, I may have some experience working in restaurants on my resume. Allegedly.”

Ellis continues, “When I sent my mum an earlier draft of the play maybe a year ago, I was really surprised how much she loved the fact that all the hero spies are explicitly Canadian, rather than working for the CIA or British Intelligence. I didn’t realize it at the time, but I think there’s an appetite for stories of Canadian heroes standing on their own two feet and being capable of the same derring-do usually reserved for Americans.”

Cast

The cast of Secret Service features Cooper Bilton as Harry, Janelle Hanna as Viviana Scarlotta, Lisa Norton as Maddy, Stephen Sparks as Nick, and Robbie Towns as Quentin. 

Creative Team

Playwright: Ephraim Ellis

Director: David Leyshon

Set Designer: Beckie Morris

Lighting Designer: Steve Lucas

Costume Designer: Alex Amini

Stage Manager: Josephine Ho

Assistant Stage Manager: Jess Gordon

Tickets for Secret Service are available now at lighthousetheatre.com or by calling the box office at 1-888-779-7703.

About Lighthouse Festival

Lighthouse Festival is a charitable organization devoted to the development and production of new and existing Canadian plays. The organization strives to be artistically excellent, support and encourage local and regional artists, and be a source of enjoyment and pride in local communities while promoting local tourism. Located in two beautiful towns on Lake Erie, our theatres operate on a central policy of hospitality, inclusivity, accessibility, and affordability for all.

Media Contact

For media inquiries, interview requests, or further information, please contact:

Don Kearney-Bourque
Marketing & Communications Manager
Lighthouse Festival Theatre Corporation
don@lighthousetheatre.com
Direct: 226-290-0070
Cell: 289-541-7410