Once Upon A Dreadful Night Presents
DREAD WATER
Adventure begins 2026
The quiet town of Onslow is consumed by a mysterious Terror. A derelict ship's arrival marked the start of disappearances, whispers, and a strange, sweet scent dulling senses. Amid the chaos, Fink & Partners, led by tycoon Thomas Fergursson, exploits the situation. With fear rising, authorities seek help to uncover the truth and confront the lurking darkness. Who will answer the call?
What is Once Upon A Dreadful Night?
Once Upon A Dreadful Night (OUDN) is an actual play / improvised theater production inspired by the tabletop RPG Dread. Each performance is a one-of-a-kind story built collaboratively between our players and the audience’s imagination — no two nights are ever the same.
Our ensemble is made up of talented local artists, each with a background in improv, storytelling, or stage performance. Together, they bring spontaneous characters, chilling narratives, and emotional depth to life — all guided by the precarious tension of the block tower at the heart of Dread.
OUDN aims to merge the playful unpredictability of tabletop gaming with the craft of live theatre. The result is an immersive experience that’s as suspenseful as it is heartfelt — where every decision, every pull, and every silence shapes the story.
The Cast
Helen
she/they | Cast Member / Show Runner / Editor
Helen Burger is an imrpovisor based in Victoria, BC. She serves as both show runner and cast member in Once Upon A Dreadful Night (OUDN) Productions. From a lead role in "Drowsy Chaperone", to several co-produced improv performances, Helen is no stranger to the creative acting scene. Through OUDN, Helen explores the human condition in the Actual Play space - vulnerability and tenacity, and people's incessantly hopeful nature. As a key creative force behind OUDN, Helen is eternally grateful for the cast members that share the same vision - to build a space where the audience can feel both thrilled and connected.
Jordan
he/him | Game Guide / World Builder
Jordan is a Victoria BC based actor, known for his role as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" for VOS Musical Theatre. Originally from Calgary, he received his training at the Canadian College of Performing Arts in Victoria, where he performed in Working: The Musical, Stage Door, and West Side Story. He is an avid enthusiast of TTRPGs like D&D and Dread. As OUDN's Game Guide, he uses his immaculate voice acting, world building and improv skills to build a truly horrifying and immersive world.
Ryan
he/they | Cast Member / Game System Designer
Also a graduate of Canadian College of Performing Arts, Ryan is a Victoria-based actor and voice-actor, with extensive experience in TTRPG - from being a professional DM, building a vast cohesive world, to stringing together an intricate custom game system. Ryan's love of storytelling and character-building shines through in his performances, where he brings a unique blend of humor, heart, and horror to the stage.
D'arcy
he/him | Cast Member / Outreach
With an adoration of the human condition and an appreciation for the arts, D'Arcy loves anything that centers authentic emotions and relationships. D'Arcy has worked as a facilitator, producer, and performer and always strives to make every effort one that is inclusive, fun, and welcoming. Take all of this and you get an improviser who grounds his work with equal parts honesty and play. He is a co-founder of The Bakery (2023-), regularly performs with Paper Street Theater's Masterclass program and was a cast member of their Mythos performance (February 2024), and works frequently as a workshop facilitator and producer. He is also one half of Burger & Briggs (2024-). D'Arcy is also a juror for the Juno awards and the Polaris Music Prize and has appeared in various printed publications of poetry, video game reviews, and music discussion.
Syrah
they/them | Cast Member / Co-Editor
Syrah is a theatre artist currently living on the traditional territories of the lək ̓ wəŋən-speaking peoples. Having graduated from the UVic with a BFA in theatre and a focus in performance, they have remained in Victoria where they continue performing in (and watching) theatre they love. They also have a (very big) soft spot for theatrical improv and have been contentedly improvising for the last 12 years. They have most recently appeared in “...Until Forever,” and “End of the Line: a Post-Apocalyptic Dystopia” with Snap! Theater, “Origins of the Coast” with Alectoria Productions, and “Romeo and Juliet” with the Greater Victoria Shakespeare Festival.
Kento
he/him | Producer / Tech
Kento is likes being behind the scenes, doing the background things that support artists to do their best work. While he rarely performs on stage, he acts as a primary produce of OUDN, and is responsible for the website, marketing, and overall production management. He contributes to the world-building and narrative development of OUDN's performances. He is intensely passionate about building community spaces to explore and express art.z
Get In Touch
For general inquiries, please contact us at onceuponadreadfulnight@gmail.com.