Sample the Fringe on Opening Night

August 22, 2019

Opening Night featuring The Georgia Straight Fringe-For-All

Get a taste of this year’s Fringe shows at The Georgia Straight Fringe-For-All! In last year’s event, audiences saw dancing vulvas courtesy of Lip Service. Photo by Julie De Sousa.

Want to start your Fringe right? You’re invited to our Opening Night featuring The Georgia Straight Fringe-For-All, happening September 4 at Performance Works!

Kick off your evening by mingling with fellow Fringe fans starting at 7:00pm while snacking on hors d’oeuvres and desserts generously provided by The Keg and Dockside Restaurant. Meet friends, make plans to taste as many Fringe flavours as possible in 11 days, and sip on new, refreshing drinks from Georgian Bay Spirit Company! But that’s not all: you can join Habibi’s for a hummus tasting, and create a customized phone wallet with MAKE!

Then, starting at 8:00pm, get ready to pencil in your Festival schedule with the best source of Fringe: The Georgia Straight Fringe-For-All, hosted by Fringe alumni Abdul Aziz (Fake Ghost Tours, and he’s returning to the Fringe with the sequel Fake Ghost Tours 2: Journey to the Other Side [of Granville Island]) and Davey Calderon (Big Queer Filipino Karaoke Night)! Enjoy bite-sized, live theatre trailers from 40 Fringe Artists and companies as they convince you to scoop up a ticket to their show.

Are you a Fringe Lover? Then you’re invited to an exclusive Donor Event starting at 6:00pm! And if you aren’t a donor yet but would like to become one, make sure to donate a minimum of $25 by September 1 to get your invite! Learn more about becoming a Fringe Lover here.  

Tickets are available for $25 online or at the door (if it doesn’t sell out first!). Get your tickets now and enjoy this sneak peek of a Theatrically Delicious Fringe! And if you can’t make it, don’t worry—we’ll be live-tweeting from the heart of action!

Try Different Music at the Phillips Fringe Bar

Move to the beat with some of Vancouver’s best musicians at the Phillips Fringe Bar! Clockwise from top left: Buckamn Coe, DJ Shanique, and Rae Spoon.

Fringers know that the Phillips Fringe Bar is THE place to be during the Festival. Located at Ocean Art Works, it’s the perfect place to get a taste of some of Vancouver’s best music acts, chat with Fringe Artists, meet old friends, and make new ones! Refreshing drinks from Phillips, Road 13 Vineyards, Wards Cider, and Georgian Bay Spirit Co. will also be available to sip on while you enjoy everything the Phillips Fringe Bar has to offer. Here’s a preview of what you can expect for 11 days of great music and company:

Veteran performer Buckman Coe will kick off the party at the Phillips Fringe Bar on Thursday, September 5. His latest release is his sixth full-length album, Gathering Storm, which Roots Music describes as “a dance between the revolutionary and romantic, with an emphasis on the soul delivery of messages of freedom and harmony.”

On September 12, the award-winning non-binary musician and author Rae Spoon will be rocking the Fringe Bar stage with music that spans folk, indie rock, and electronic genres! Referred to by NOW Magazine as “one of the most important musicians working in Canada today.” They recently released their 10th full-length album, Mental Health!

And look forward to ending the Fringe with radiant beats from DJ Shanique on Sunday, September 15! Also known as Softieshan, she is helping shape the DJing landscape as the Vancouver coordinator of Intersessions, an initiative that helps address inequality in the city’s music and nightlife industries by mentoring female and femme-identified DJs!

If you need even more reasons to hang out at the Phillips Fringe Bar, you can check out the full lineup here. The Fringe Bar is open from 6:00pm till late from Monday to Friday, and from 1:00pm till late on Saturdays and Sundays. All ages are welcome, but people must be 19 or older to purchase alcohol at the Fringe Bar.

A Romantic Weekend Getaway for $10?

You can win amazing prizes, including a vineyard weekend getaway to Kelowna, through the Fringe Raffle! Photo by Adrian Ruigrok.

Thanks to the Fringe, not only can you see as much theatre as you want in 11 days, but you can also bag great prizes through the Fringe Raffle for the low, low price of $10! You can read more about the Raffle Prizes here, but for now, we’re putting the spotlight at one of our prizes—a weekend getaway to Kelowna sponsored by The View Winery Vineyard!

Sometimes, all it takes for Fringers to recharge after a very hectic Festival is a quick weekend trip out of the city, doing something where all you have to do is show up, relax, and be ready to have fun. And this is exactly what The View Winery Vineyard is offering! Through their Vineyard Experience, guests can develop a deeper appreciation of their wines and ciders thanks to a guided, educational tour of their orchard and vineyard. This 30-minute hike ends with a sparkling tasting at the top of the property with a fantastic view of Kelowna and Okanagan Lake. On top of this, the Raffle Prize winner gets treated to a picnic featuring an assortment of artisan cheeses, baguettes, and light charcuterie to complement their tasting. Then, the tour is capped off with a flight of five wines or ciders waiting for them in their tasting room, making it the perfect time to try out some of Wards Cider’s newest offerings: the Mimosa and Ginger Apple Cider!

For just $10, give yourself a chance at this relaxing trip (or get three chances for $20)! Raffle tickets are available at the Raffle Tent (by the Fringe Box Office), the Phillips Fringe Bar, and around the Festival. Winners will be drawn at Fringe Awards Night, Sunday, September 15 (doors at 9:30pm) at Performance Works (you do not have to be present—we’ll be in touch if you win!). Good luck!

Hone Your Craft at the Fringe

The Fringe is offering all sorts of workshops to sharpen your skills! Check out this photo from 2018 with New(to)Town Collective’s Training Jam. Photo by Rosemarie Gresham.

The Fringe is proud to cultivate a platform where Artists—whether they’re emerging or established—can perform their works in an unjuried and uncensored environment. On top of that, the Festival also provides Artists an opportunity to share their skills and mentor other Artists and aspiring Artists. Get ready to learn from the workshops offered by Fringe Artists this year!

Theatre Terrific’s Artistic Director, Susanna Uchatius (Workin’), will kick off the week of learning at the Fringe on Tuesday, September 10 with a session on Radical Collaborative Inclusive Theatre. This workshop will focus on how to “be with,” play, work, and create theatre with all people, regardless of perceived assumptions of difference. Participants will be able to sharpen their skills of silence, listening, physical, vocal, and intuitive collaboration.

On Wednesday, September 11, Nyla Carpentier from the show Dissection of a Indian Aboriginal First Nation Indigenous Native Full-Blood Status Non-Status Halfbreed Métis Rez Urban Mixed Heritage Woman will be hosting an interactive Powwow 101 workshop where you can learn the Indigenous history behind the dance steps, the various dance styles, and what protocols to expect when attending a Powwow. This workshop is open to Indigenous and non-Indigenous participants—just remember to bring a bottle of water and clothes you can sweat in!

Register today for a lunch circle-chat hosted by the Vancouver Fringe’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Director Siobhan Barker called Are We There Yet? Next Steps in Arts; Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion on Thursday, September 12. She will be joined by Davey Calderon, Jillian Christmas, Marion Landers, Renae Morriseau, and Tom Pickett. Make sure to register by September 7 as lunch will be included!

Does watching storytelling shows at the Fringe inspire you to start creating your own? Join acclaimed comedian-storyteller Jon Bennett (Pretending Things are a Cock) in the How to Tell a Story workshop on Friday, September 13! He’ll facilitate an open, supportive environment where participants can share stories, unpack the storytelling process, and learn what an entertaining story is all about!

Read more about the workshops on our website and sign up today! Registration on a sliding scale basis is also available at the door and it’s cash only. And RSVP by September 3 if you would like to arrange for ASL interpretation for any of the workshops.

Reminder: Volunteers Still Needed!

Join the Fringe Family (and wear a mustache on September 12 to celebrate Mustache Madness) by signing up to be a volunteer today! Photo by Jenna Owen.

With only a couple weeks to go before the Festival starts, the Fringe is still looking for people to help make 11 days of Theatre for Everyone run smoothly! Enjoy tinkering with tools? Sign up to help with production and site crew! Love meeting people from all walks of life? Then you might just be the perfect ticket seller. Want to try your hand at everything? You can by being a rescue ranger! With the variety of volunteer positions available at the Fringe, there’s sure to be a role that fits you! Fringe Volunteers get snacks to the Volunteer Centre, an exclusive invite to our Volunteer Appreciation Party, and of course, a Rush Pass that allows them to see any Fringe show that’s not sold out! You can start by creating an account on MyVolunteerPage.com, or update your existing account if you’re a returning volunteer! Thanks for your help in making this year’s Festival gr-r-reat!

Fringe Tickets & Guides Now Available!

August 7, 2019

Festival Tickets Now on Sale!

Avoid line-ups by buying your tickets now! Photo by Mark Freeman.

Ready to indulge in some theatrically delicious Fringe shows? Tickets are now on sale! Visit our website and buy tickets to the 2019 Vancouver Fringe Festival shows for just $15. And if you’re looking to save some cash, don’t worry: select performances are available for half-price!

Can’t get enough Fringe? Buy a Frequent Fringer Card, good for four, 10, or 30 performances at a discounted price! But Frequent Fringer Cards are limited and always sell out, so make sure to get yours now.

Don’t forget, everyone needs a Membership to attend shows at the Festival. These are $7 and are available to purchase in advance online or at the venues. Memberships help cover the cost of the Festival, since Artists keep 100% of the base ticket price!

Find more ticket information here, then get your tickets! And when you do, make sure to read our Code of Conduct, a community pledge for all participants in the Fringe to ensure the Festival is a safe, welcoming, and inclusive space for all. See you in September!

Program Guide Launch Party and AGM Recap

Everyone had a Theatrically Delicious time at the Fringe’s AGM and Program Guide Launch Party! Photos by Neil Bryan, Pierre Charlebois, and Bruce McPherson.

If you missed the Program Guide Launch Party on July 25, don’t worry—we’ll fill you in on what went down that evening at CBC Studio 700. The Vancouver Fringe Theatre Society also had its Annual General Meeting before launching into party mode, and here’s everything you need to know from that night.

Fringe Executive Director Laura Efron led everyone into full party gear! She invited Communications Director Debby Reis and Graphic Designer Courtney McLachlin to the stage to speak about the theme this year: “It’s Theatrically Delicious!” 2019 Program Guide cover artist Chris Ross aka Christache (who also created the 2018 cover) couldn’t join us that night, but shared some of his process on his Instagram page!

Once Program Guides were handed out, Fringers in attendance played a game of Stationary Scavenger Hunt while enjoying some snacks from Dockside Restaurant and refreshments from Georgian Bay Spirits Co.!

Afterwards, Director of Sponsorship and Development Chelsey Stuyt hosted a familiar treat for Fringers: a bite-sized Fringe-for-All exclusively for the party! Publius Productions opened the show with a scene from their show Pieces of Eight, followed by a set from Rape is Real and Everywhere’s Jane Stanton. The Great Canadian Porno: The Musical then took to the stage with a rousing musical number, followed by a scene from Legoland, which is part of this year’s Dramatic Works Series. Kat Single-Dain closed the show with her show Gloria’s Happy Hour, ending the night with a cartwheel and a split that surprised audiences!

Pick up your own Program Guide at select Blenz Coffee locations or at other Fringe-friendly business today! Visit the Program Guide page on the Fringe website for a downloadable version or check out the Google Map with all points of distribution marked so you can find a Guide close to you!

At the AGM, which preceded the Launch Party, Executive Director Laura Efron reported on the success of the 2018 Festival, highlighting the over 18% increase in artist payouts and the increase in show attendance. She also acknowledged Kathy Costello’s many years of hard work at the Fringe as the Finance Manager before retiring earlier this year.

Laura spoke about the Fringe’s ongoing Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) work and introduced Siobhan Barker, the Fringe’s EDI Director. She also announced a new award for the 2019 Festival—the TD Fringe Forward Award. Presented in partnership with Neworld Theatre and sponsored by TD Bank Group, this prize recognizes a production that centres the work of Artists from historically marginalized communities. You can read more about this Award on the Fringe website.

The Vancouver Fringe Theatre Society thanked Aaron Pinto and Andrew Westman for their work as Board Secretary and Past President, respectively, as they step down from their roles. They also welcomed new board members Lee-Lynn Gan, Kuan Foo, and Robyn Kurtz. You may remember Kuan for writing the Public Market Pick of the Fringe winning-show, SELF-ish, and Robyn for being previously involved in the Fringe in different capacities for many years—as a volunteer, as a Board Member, and as the Director of Patron Development!

A $35,000 Birthday Present

Donate to the Fringe’s 35 for 35 campaign and you’ll be invited to a donor-exclusive party featuring a private performance by a Fringe Artist! Photo by Bruce McPherson.

The Fringe’s 35th birthday is coming up fast (less than a month, to be exact)—and we’re making merry by raising $35,000. And we’re almost halfway there! Help the Fringe reach this goal by donating today!

If you donate $25 by September 1, you’ll get the added perk of getting an invite to an exclusive Donor Event on Opening Night on September 4. This pre-Fringe-for-All party treats you to food, drinks, a private performance by a Fringe Artist, and an opportunity meet other Fringe lovers like you!

The Fringe does not earn money from selling show tickets—100% of the base ticket price goes directly to the Artists, and the one-time $7 Membership only covers 5.5% of the Fringe’s expenses. This means that it’s thanks to donations from awesome people like you that the Festival keeps going year after year!

Donate today to help the Fringe achieve its goal by October 1! As a token of gratitude, you’ll get an invite to a donor-exclusive party in November featuring food from Dockside Restaurant, drinks by Georgian Bay Spirits Co., and a one-of-a-kind performance by Fringe Artists just for donors!

Dispatch from Fringe New Play Prize Winning show, Mx

Lili Robinson is very busy preparing for Mx‘s premiere at the Fringe this September! Here she is with PTC’s project dramaturg, Joanna Garfinkel.

The Fringe New Play Prize (FNPP), a partnership between the Fringe and Playwrights Theatre Centre, awards an emerging playwright a guaranteed spot on the Fringe Mainstage, dramaturgical support, and more. This year’s winner is Mx, created and written by Lili Robinson. In this latest Dispatch, Lili chats with dramaturg Joanna Garfinkel about the process of developing her show.

JG: What led you to apply to the FNPP?
LR: I was very interested in working with a dramaturg on a multidisciplinary show like this one and seeing how that process would take shape. The whole package of the FNPP also just seemed like an amazing springboard from which to dive into writing and performing my own work.

JG: How has it been different from working independently, or with peer writing partners?
LR: Compared to working totally independently, it has been really good to know that someone else has the show in their head and is keeping an eye on not only the sense and integrity of the writing itself, but the myriad little things to keep on top of, knowing that this is a self-produced show we’ll be doing at a Fringe Festival.

Knowing that I can write whatever wacky idea comes into my head and there is someone else, with a lot of experience in this stuff, looking out for the overall cohesion of the piece is a huge comfort, especially for a play as jam-packed as this one. Having a dramaturg allows me to be able to work towards the very specific, very personal vision of this piece while still having the gift of a collaborator working with me to figure out the best execution of it.

Click here to learn more about Lili’s thoughts on “writing” clown for the page, navigating heavy personal experiences in her work, bringing in Donna-Michelle Saint Bernard to direct Mx, and what learnings she’ll take going in to her next play. And visit PTC’s website to learn more about applying for the 2020 Fringe New Play Prize!

PrintPrint Loves Artists

Those flyers? PrintPrint. Those posters? PrintPrint. These super-cute Rush Passes the volunteers are holding up? Why, they’re also from PrintPrint! Photo by Nandia Syabrina.

Fringe Artists lead action-packed lives during the Festival. On top of performing anywhere from six to 10 times in 11 days, they also promote their show any way they can: by giving interviews, plugging their show everywhere, and by flyering Festival lineups. And if you’ve ever stood in line waiting to get into a Fringe show, you’ve probably gotten a flyer from one or more of them!

No one understands this fast-paced lifestyle better than PrintPrint. Serving all corners of the Vancouver area for nearly two decades, their tightly-packed shop churns out most orders inside a 24 to 48-hour timeframe—perfect for the Fringe’s lightning pace.

PrintPrint is locally-owned, progressive, caring, and they love supporting the arts community—from musicians, to illustrators, to everything in between. With the Fringe also sharing these values, it’s no surprise that we’ve partnered with them for many years to produce flyers, posters, and passes for the shows and the Festival!

So for your next project, make sure to publish it with PrintPrint and find out why people call them “the little shop that could!” Check out what some of their customers say about them on their Yelp, Facebook, and Google Reviews page.