Solo Chicken Productions is touring Fruit Machine, a new physical theatre production, across Atlantic Canada. The show shines a light on one of the darkest and least discussed chapters in Canadian history: the LGBT Purge.
In their directorial debut, Alex Rioux poses a powerful question as posted in the teaser : “Which is the greater treason? Treason to your country, or treason to your friends?”
Blending movement, projection, and text, Fruit Machine tells the stories of queer Canadians who were systematically targeted and removed from the federal civil service, military, and RCMP.
To those who dismiss such productions as performative or accuse them of pushing a 2SLGBTQIA+ agenda, activist Samantha Lee responds: “Queer individuals are a part of society, and we will not be erased anymore.”
The production takes its name from a now-infamous device developed by the RCMP in the 1960s to “detect” homosexuality—a tool symbolic of a wider campaign of institutionalized paranoia and discrimination. “We as queer individuals have taken what was a derogation and turned the word ‘fruity’ into a celebration of our identities,” said Lee.
They were drawn to the story for its emotional distance and historical weight, and chose to work exclusively with queer artists to bring the production to life.
Set between the 1950s and 1990s, Fruit Machine follows four fictionalized characters—Harold, Herbert, Sue, and Yvette—each reflecting different aspects of the purge’s impact. Their stories are rooted in real-life accounts, historical records, and poetry, illustrating the devastating consequences faced by those persecuted for their identities.
“Queer identities are forced to be like sailboats in the ocean—each separated from the other,” said psycholgy major Jill Lawton. “But that’s not the truth. We are all a part of society, and our stories impact everyone.”
The tour includes two special LGBT Purge Commemoration Events: one in Fredericton and the other—this weekend—in Dartmouth. The Dartmouth event will feature talks by photojournalist, activist, and LGBT Purge survivor Diane (Dee) Doiron; playwright Alex Rioux; Dr. Carmen Poulin of the University of New Brunswick; and Meredith Batt, Director of the Queer Heritage Initiative, who will introduce a mini-exhibition of purge-related artifacts.
In recognition of those affected, free tickets are being offered to all LGBT Purge survivors and their families.
Queer rights activist Adeb Arianson noted that erasure of queer individuals remains a serious social issue, both historically and in the present day. He welcomed the show’s arrival in Halifax, saying it allows audiences to experience queer stories as they are—unfiltered and unglamourized.
“We hope to not only share this important story,” Solo Chicken Productions said in a statement, “but also to create spaces for reflection, connection, and education. In a time when 2SLGBTQIA+ communities are facing renewed discrimination, it feels more important than ever to shine a light on this part of our history.”
Viola Taylor, who saw the production in Moncton, said: “I’ll be in Halifax on the 23rd. I loved it the first time around… I have to see it again.” She added, “It’s not only thought-provoking, but tear-jerking too, and I would recommend everyone watch it.”
Fruit Machine plays May 22 and 23 at Dartmouth’s Alderney Landing. It’s a haunting look at the damage done by paranoia-driven policies—and a powerful tribute to the queer individuals who resisted an insidious, dehumanizing security campaign.
Correction: On Friday, May 30, 2025, this article was updated to correct the pronouns of Alex Rioux and remove a misquote.
This article appears in May 1-31, 2025.