# Creeps (play) > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Creeps_(play) > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Creeps_(play).md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creeps_(play) > Source revision: 1337571442 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) **Creeps** is a one-act play by David E. Freeman that premiered in 1971 at [Factory Theatre Lab](/source/Factory_Theatre). The play is about four men with [cerebral palsy](/source/Cerebral_palsy) working in a sheltered workshop in 1970s Toronto. ## Synopsis *Creeps* follows four disabled men working in a [sheltered workshop](/source/Sheltered_workshop) for men with [cerebral palsy](/source/Cerebral_palsy) in 1970s Toronto. The men escape from their menial work to the workshop bathroom, where the play is set. The men barricade themselves in the bathroom in protest of their work and the way they are treated. A telethon and circus performance from the [Shriners](/source/Shriners) occasionally interrupts the men.[1][2] ## Development In 1964, *[Maclean’s](/source/Maclean's)* published Freeman's article "The World Of Can’t." The article was about the difficulties of being taken seriously as responsible members of society while living with cerebral palsy. CBC commissioned Freeman to adapt "The World of Can't" for television; however, this adaptation was never completed. Theatre director [Bill Glassco](/source/Bill_Glassco) later suggested that Freeman turn the television script into a stage play.[3] He wrote the script on a typewriter using a stick held between his teeth.[4] ## Productions *Creeps* premiered in February 1971 at [Factory Theatre Lab](/source/Factory_Theatre) in Toronto.[2][5] Later that year, *Creeps* was part of [Tarragon Theatre](/source/Tarragon_Theatre)'s first season, featuring [John Candy](/source/John_Candy).[6] The play won the [Floyd S. Chalmers Canadian Play Award](/source/Floyd_S._Chalmers_Canadian_Play_Award) in 1973.[3] The play had its US premiere in 1973 at [Folger Theater](/source/Folger_Theatre) in Washington before going to Playhouse 2 in New York City. The production was directed by Louis W. Scheeder.[7] In 1979, the [University of Saskatchewan](/source/University_of_Saskatchewan) Drama Department staged *Creeps* under the direction of Tom Kerr. The U of S production traveled to the [Edinburgh Fringe Festival](/source/Edinburgh_Festival_Fringe), the British premiere of the play, and won a [Fringe First award](/source/Fringe_First_award).[8][9] In 2016, [Realwheels Theatre](/source/Realwheels_Theatre) in Vancouver staged the play under the direction of Brian Cochrane.[10] This was the first production of the play to feature disabled actors playing disabled characters.[4] The production won three [Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards](/source/Jessie_Richardson_Theatre_Awards) in 2017 in the small theatre category: Outstanding Direction, Significant Artistic Achievement for the ensemble cast, and Outstanding Set Design for Lauchlin Johnston.[11] Additionally, Christopher David Gauthier was nominated for Outstanding Costume Design for his work on the production and Cochrane was nominated for Outstanding Direction.[12] ## References 1. Kurukz, John (2018-08-15). ["Creeps takes centre stage at the Cultch"](https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/courier-archive/entertainment/creeps-takes-centre-stage-at-the-cultch-3043016). *Vancouver Is Awesome*. Retrieved 2025-12-09. 1. ["Creeps"](https://www.canadiantheatre.com/dict.pl?term=Creeps). *Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia*. 2017-06-28. Retrieved 2025-12-09. 1. Kaplan, Jon (2012-11-18). ["Remember David Freeman"](https://nowtoronto.com/culture/remember-david-freeman/). *NOW Toronto*. Retrieved 2025-12-09. 1. Smith, Janet (2016-11-30). ["Realwheels Theatre's Creeps goes deep"](https://www.straight.com/arts/838241/realwheels-theatres-creeps-goes-deep). *The Georgia Straight*. Retrieved 2025-12-09. 1. Thomas, Colin (2016-12-04). ["Creeps packs a sucker punch worth taking"](https://colinthomas.ca/creeps/). *Fresh Sheet Reviews*. Retrieved 2025-12-09. 1. ["Playwright David Freeman brought disability stories to stage"](https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/playwright-david-freeman-brought-disability-stories-to-stage-1.1288205). *CBC*. 2012-11-16. Retrieved 2025-12-08. 1. Barnes, Clive (1973-12-05). ["The Theater: ‘Creeps’"](https://www.nytimes.com/1973/12/05/archives/the-theater-creeps-cripplesplight-shown-in-documentary-play-the.html). *The New York Times*. Retrieved 2025-12-08. 1. Fuller, Cam (2015-11-17). ["Greystone photo captured history in the making at University of Saskatchewan"](https://thestarphoenix.com/entertainment/local-arts/greystone-photo-captured-history-in-the-making). *The Saskatoon Star Phoenix*. [Archived](http://web.archive.org/web/20210901043807/https://thestarphoenix.com/entertainment/local-arts/greystone-photo-captured-history-in-the-making) 2021-09-01 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2025-12-09. 1. Thomas, Colin (2020-04-01). ["Tom Kerr, “a giant of a man”"](https://colinthomas.ca/tom-kerr-a-giant-of-a-man/). *Fresh Sheet Reviews*. Retrieved 2025-12-09. 1. ["Creeps play presents 1970s look at life with disability"](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/creeps-play-presents-1970s-look-at-life-with-disability-1.3877270). *CBC*. 2016-12-04. Retrieved 2025-12-08. 1. Lederman, Marsha (2017-06-27). ["Canadian play Creeps a big winner at Jessie Awards in Vancouver"](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/theatre-and-performance/canadian-play-creeps-a-big-winner-at-jessie-awards-in-vancouver/article35474743/). *The Globe and Mail*. Retrieved 2025-12-09. 1. Smith, Janet (2017-05-23). ["Arts Club and its Angels in America, Part One lead Jessie Richardson Theatre Award Nominations"](https://www.straight.com/arts/913671/arts-club-and-its-angels-america-part-one-lead-jessie-richardson-theatre-award). *The Georgia Straight*. Retrieved 2025-12-09. --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Creeps (play)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creeps_(play)) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creeps_(play)?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.