Get ready to tease your hair, dust off your leg warmers and turn up the Culture Club! Lighthouse Festival is kicking off its 2027 Summer Season with the World Premiere of Steeplechasers, a hilarious new Canadian comedy by playwright Mark Weatherley that proves you’re never too old to rock the boat, or save a church!
Set in 1983, Steeplechasers follows four spirited women whose beloved church is facing a rather unfortunate architectural disaster. The steeple has collapsed, the congregation desperately needs money, and the clock is ticking. But these ladies aren’t about to sit around waiting for a miracle.
Instead, they hatch an outrageous plan: trade their sensible shoes for fishnets, exchange traditional hymns for New Wave hits, and enter a local music contest in hopes of raising enough money to save their church.
Think The Golden Girls meets The Go-Go’s, with a dash of The Full Monty and enough 1980s attitude to make Boy George proud!
For playwright Mark Weatherley, Steeplechasers is more than a comedy about four unlikely rock stars. At its heart, it’s a celebration of friendship, determination and the extraordinary things ordinary people can accomplish when they refuse to give up.
“I love stories about ordinary people who find themselves doing extraordinary things, especially when they have absolutely no business doing them! These four women aren’t rock stars. They’re not even particularly rebellious when we first meet them. But when something they love is threatened, they discover a side of themselves they never knew existed. And that’s where the fun really begins!”
With outrageous situations, memorable characters and a healthy dose of 1980s nostalgia, Steeplechasers promises the kind of laugh-out-loud comedy Lighthouse Festival audiences have come to love.
But beneath the big hair and outrageous costumes is a story about the importance of community, the strength of friendship and finding the courage to take chances, no matter your age.
“There’s something wonderfully funny about taking four women who are quite comfortable with their routines and suddenly throwing them into the world of New Wave music in 1983,” says Weatherley. “It’s a world of wild hairstyles, questionable fashion choices and an entirely different attitude. But underneath all that comedy is a story about friendship, loyalty and the lengths we’ll go to for the people and places that matter to us.”
A World Premiere Worth Celebrating
For Lighthouse Festival Artistic Director David Leyshon, opening the 2027 Summer Season with a brand-new Canadian play is particularly exciting.
“There’s something incredibly special about presenting a World Premiere. Our audiences get to be part of the very first chapter in a play’s theatrical life, and that’s exciting for everyone involved. Mark has created a wonderfully funny story filled with colourful characters, outrageous situations and a tremendous amount of heart. It’s exactly the kind of comedy that makes Lighthouse such a special place to spend a summer afternoon or evening.”
As the first production in Lighthouse Festival’s 2027 Summer Season, Steeplechasers sets the tone for a lineup celebrating laughter, love, family, friendship and the resilience of the human spirit. And while the comedy is firmly rooted in the outrageous fashions and infectious pop culture of the early 1980s, its themes are universal.
“What I particularly love about Steeplechasers is that these women could easily be people we know in our own communities. They’re neighbours, friends and volunteers who care deeply about something bigger than themselves,” says Leyshon. “When they’re faced with a seemingly impossible challenge, they come together in the most unexpected and hilarious way. Audiences will laugh at their antics, but I think they’ll also recognize something of themselves in these characters.”
From Sensible Shoes to New Wave Superstars
Of course, no comedy set in 1983 would be complete without a generous helping of nostalgia. From bold fashion statements and colourful personalities to the unmistakable energy of New Wave music, Steeplechasers embraces an era when bigger really was better—especially when it came to hair!
But Weatherley hopes audiences take away more than fond memories of the decade.
“I hope audiences come away having laughed a great deal, but also feeling a little inspired. These women don’t allow their age, their circumstances or anyone else’s expectations to define what they’re capable of doing. Sometimes it takes a ridiculous idea and a little bit of courage to remind us that life still has plenty of surprises in store.”
It’s that combination of humour and heart that makes Steeplechasers such a fitting introduction to the 2027 Lighthouse Festival season.
“If there’s one thing Lighthouse audiences love, it’s a great comedy with characters they can root for. Steeplechasers delivers that in spades,” says Leyshon. “We’ve got four fantastic women, an outrageous plan, plenty of 1980s nostalgia and a story that reminds us of the power of friendship and community. I can’t think of a more entertaining way to launch our 2027 season, and I’m thrilled that our audiences will be among the first anywhere to experience it.”
Be Among the First to Experience Steeplechasers!
Steeplechasers makes its World Premiere at Lighthouse Theatre in Port Dover from May 12 to 29, 2027, before heading to Roselawn Theatre in Port Colborne from June 2 to 13, 2027.
As the opening production of Lighthouse Festival’s five-play summer season, it’s the perfect way to kick off another summer of exceptional Canadian comedy.
And there’s no better way to secure your seats than with a 2027 Lighthouse Festival subscription!
Choose from a three-show or five-show subscription and enjoy great savings, access to preferred seating and exclusive subscriber benefits. Better yet, purchase before November 13, 2026, to take advantage of special Early Bird pricing.
Don’t miss your chance to be part of theatrical history as four unlikely rock stars take to the stage in a brand-new Canadian comedy that’s bursting with laughter, nostalgia and heart.
After all, saving the world might be impossible. But saving a church with a New Wave band? Totally rad!
2027 Performance Dates
- Port Dover – Lighthouse Theatre: May 12–29, 2027
- Port Colborne – Roselawn Theatre: June 2–13, 2027
For more information about Steeplechasers and Lighthouse Festival’s 2027 Summer Season, visit https://lighthousetheatre.com/2027-summer-season/.
To purchase a subscription, visit https://lighthousetheatre.com/tickets/subscriptions/ or call the Box Office at 1-888-779-7703.