The True Story at Theatre on the Ridge
September 9 – 20, 2026
Piggyland
A new play by Graeme Powell
Directed by Carey Nicholson
Piggyland is an exciting new drama by Durham region playwright, Graeme Powell. Inspired by true events that took place in Sunderland, Ontario in the early 1960s, Piggyland is a tale of greed, deception and the pursuit of dreams.
Concocted by career conman John Laun, the Piggyland farm raised over a million dollars from investors eager to double, or even triple their investment. Instead, they lost it all and the mysterious John Laun vanished without a trace…and so did all the money.
Remember, if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is…
The Creatives
Graeme is a playwright and actor who is familiar to audiences throughout Durham Region from his many roles with Theatre on the Ridge, Borelians Community Theatre, and Oshawa Little Theatre, to name a few. He is a member of the Playwright’s Guild of Canada, and his first play, Renovations, was awarded Best New Canadian Play at the Act-Co Festival in 2015. Other plays include: All Together Now, Palmer Park, A Third of Richard, and a series of short plays called Pine Grove Plots. He lives in Sunderland with his family.
Carey Nicholson is a co-founder and current artistic director of Theatre on the Ridge and an accomplished director and theatre designer. Originally trained in classical and contemporary dance, she has been on faculty with George Brown College and the Dance Arts Institute (formerly the School of the Toronto Dance Theatre) and is an independent arts educator.
Behind the Scenes
Suitable for ages 12 +
Running time: 90 minutes. No intermission
Piggyland is included in the 2026 Summer Season Pass.

Offered At An Additional Cost: $25/ Workshop $15/ Workshop with Ticket Purchase