The debate may be raging on the CBC today, but John Nolan decided years ago that Tommy Douglas was one, if not the, greatest Canadians of all time.

Nearly two decades ago, Nolan began researching noted Canadian figures for a play about a great Canadian. He found that the former premier of Saskatchewan was "head and shoulders above anyone else" he could find.

"He accomplished things that very few people, not just in Canada, but in the world has ever been able to accomplish," said Nolan, whose play "Tommy Douglas: The Arrows of Desire" premieres tonight, Oct. 20, at the Weyburn Comprehensive School at 7:30 p.m.

The one-man play will feature Nolan, a playwright and actor from B.C. Nolan has portrayed several other prominent figures in one-man plays before, most notably American lawyer Clarence Darrow.

Arrows of Desire is not a simple re-telling of the past, though it contains excerpts of speeches and quotes by Douglas. It has the former Saskatchewan premier speaking to the crowd as though he were still at the podium as a Baptist minister, and at times talking about things in an intimate manner that, Nolan admits, Tommy did not generally speak to people.

"What I'm hoping that they'll see is pure Douglas, unplugged and raw," said Nolan. "And relating to today - not relating to yesterday. Because I believe that, really, he speaks to a new generation.

"Douglas was not only ahead of his time - he's ahead of this time. I sincerely believe that from reading his words, from reading the things that he had to say."

The play runs until Saturday, Oct. 23, at the Weyburn Comprehensive School Cafetorium. Tickets are available at Co-op Foods, Pharmasave, Picasso's Deli and Bent's Smoke Shoppe.

Nolan said he has heard people from across Saskatchewan will be in attendance at the world premiere tonight, which would have been Tommy Douglas' 100th birthday (Douglas was born in 1904 at Falkirk, Scotland).

He has also heard of people coming from B.C. and even England.

After the Weyburn run is completed, Nolan is planning to take the play on a Saskatchewan tour, and is currently booking dates for 2005. To this end, he will be presenting Arrows of Desire at the Organization of Saskatchewan Arts Councils (OSAC) conference.

He has already booked dates for a B.C. tour in 2006.

Nolan said he has received tremendous support in producing Arrows of Desire.