Two best friends, a racehorse named Horse E. and a jockey named Jacques E., love to spend all day lying in the grass, talking about their crushes, and analyzing horse-based phrases. But one day Horse’s trainer gives them an ultimatum–they must win the Kentucky Derby or Horse will be sold. With three weeks until the race, Jacques presses Horse to go for broke–but is the cost of chasing their dreams worth risking their friendship? Horseplay is a shimmering, funny, heart-tugging play by emerging playwright Kole Durnford.
About the Author
Kole Durnford is a mixed Metis/settler playwright and actor originally from Stony Plain, Alberta. A graduate from Toronto Metropolitan University in 2022, Kole’s professional playwriting debut came in 2025 with the world premiere of Horseplay, at Workshop West Playwrights’ Theatre. Horseplay received the Sterling Award for Outstanding Production and received five nominations including Outstanding New Play. Kole’s first play, Echo, has been produced three times, most recently as part of the Toronto Fringe’s 2023 Next Stage Festival. Kole has developed his work with the Banff Centre for the Arts, Native Earth Performing Arts, and the Paprika Festival’s Indigenous Arts Program. Kole creates work that is bold in concept, pathos and liveness. As an actor, Kole is a three-time Dora Mavor Award nominee.
