How can a locally-owned club compete against oligarchs and sovereign
wealth funds?

When a dubious foreign entity launches a hostile takeover, United’s already difficult season threatens to become a disaster.Now they've got one last chance to avoid relegation and salvage a city's pride.Will a rag-tag bunch of has-beens and never-wozzas—dispel despair and self-doubt long enough—to conjure up a victory with their backs against the wall?The 38ᵗʰ Match is a sharp satirical dramedy, that draws on various musical styles from hip-hop to classic songbook, all inspired by the sounds of the terraces. Get ready for a high-energy roller coaster with an ending you won't see coming.

Play the demos

Meet the blokes behind the show

Marteinn Thorsson—DramaturgMarteinn is a director and screenwriter. His first feature, One Point O was shown at the Sundance Film Festival and nominated for the Grand Jury Prize. His third movie, XL, won for Best Actor at the European Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. He spent two years directing live TV, before shooting his fourth feature, Backyard Village which was screened at the 2021 Santa Barbara International Film Festival. Marteinn’s films have sold to over 40 countries.

Michael Moss—Book and Lyrics
Michael is an award-winning creative director and emerging playwright. He began his career producing videos for UK record companies, before working for multinational and local agencies in Canada and internationally, winning awards in London, New York, and Toronto. The 38th Match is his first play. His second play, The Killers was a runner-up for the 2020 Kenneth Branagh Award for New Drama Writing. While his third play Desperados was produced via Zoom as part of the Cockpit Theatre's New Stuff Programme. Michael studied English & Drama at Goldsmiths College, London.

Mike Blanchard—Composer
Mike spent his formative years playing guitar in Kitchener-Waterloo bands including The Rhinos with Robert Carli and Danny Michel. He wrote many of the tracks on the band’s two albums Fishing in the Fountain of Youth and Flying. During The Rhinos heyday, he toured Canada 14 times. Mike also co-composed the soundtrack and music for Vancouver regional weekly TV variety show Zero Avenue, together with Carli. He was awarded a VideoFACT grant for the composition of Jackadandy Babbit.

Tristan Waley—Composer
Tristan is a lyrical jazz pianist who has composed film scores for over a decade. He has studied with some of Canada’s leading jazz educators and musicians including Frank Falco (York University Music Program), Mark Eisenman (York University Music Program), Amanda Tosoff (Humber Music Program). Ruben Vazquez (Royal Conservatory of Music). Composer and music credits for documentary, film and online content include Kingdom (2018), The Discovered Series (2018) All That Lives (2015), Peripatetic (2014), Lab Studio Design (2014) Into the Light (2013), and Composure (2006).

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