Amid the cozy atmosphere of Comedy Bar Danforth, The Roll Player made its debut — a show that fuses the nerdiness of Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) with the spontaneous energy of improv. The result is two hours of non-stop laughter.
Created by Kris Siddiqi, a U of T graduate and actor, The Roll Player sees him transform the traditional tabletop role-playing game into an immersive theatrical experience, and it’s all improvised.
“We wanted to just play D&D, and we thought we could mix it up,” Siddiqi recalled in an interview with The Varsity. “So we said, ‘Why not bring the game to the stage?’”
The show seamlessly merges both a theatre production and a typical D&D session. Much of the credit goes to the meticulous staging: the set resembles a classic D&D adventure, with adaptable lighting, potions, and an assortment of imaginative objects. A screen at each extremity of the stage allows spectators to see the characters’ statistics and maps of the game. The incredible live soundtrack by Canadian Screen Award winner Jay McCarrol perfectly complements the performances.
The cast — composed of comedians from the Second City Toronto Mainstage — includes U of T alum and actor Sharjil Rasool, comedian Sarah Hillier, and actor Andy Hull, who portray a wizard, a bard, and a barbarian, respectively. Essentially, they play the holy trinity of D&D.
As in any D&D campaign, the dice decide the outcome: each critical success earns roaring approval, while disastrous rolls force the cast into unexpected — and often hilarious — moments. Three improvisers amplify the chaos by portraying random non-player characters, introducing new twists or running gags.
Siddiqi, who serves as the Dungeon Master for this campaign, pointed out how different it is to play in front of a live crowd. In a D&D game at home, he observed that there is much less screaming, and the sessions last longer to allow players to focus on building a meticulously layered story. On stage, however, “everything’s heightened,” he said.
The Roll Player isn’t just for hardcore fans: despite the geeky references, the performance welcomes everyone — whether you know every spell by heart or can’t tell a d8 (eight-sided die) from a d20 (20-sided die). Rasool, who had never played D&D until his casting in the show, provided assurance that even if you don’t know anything about D&D, there is much fun to be had. “It’s just improv,” he said, “just fantasy.”
Rasool and Siddiqi reminisced about their time at U of T: “I was this nerd who just smoked weed and watched movies all day,” recalled Siddiqi. “When you’re studying film, you can really be a nerd about what you love.” This became a huge push for Siddiqi to pursue the outlets that brought him pleasure. “Now I’m playing D&D on stage in front of people,” he said, “which is pretty amazing.”
The Roll Player arrives at a time when D&D is surging in popularity, fuelled by the film Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023) and its presence in shows like Stranger Things. In an era marked by the digitization of social interaction and increasing social isolation in a polarized world, people crave in-person experiences that offer an escape from everyday life. The Roll Player taps into this need, inviting everyone to share a live, dice-driven adventure.
By the final show in December 2025, audiences will have witnessed an entire campaign shaped by improvisation rather than a rigid script. With 10 performances remaining, The Roll Player offers a rare opportunity to watch a D&D adventure unfold in real time, ensuring that no two nights are the same.
Sure, D&D is about fighting monsters and collecting treasure, but at its core, it’s about imagination, storytelling, and embracing the unexpected — just like improv. Even if you don’t have the improv talent of Rasool, the show is a great way to discover or rediscover the magic of D&D and to realize that sometimes, the best stories begin with a single roll.
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