When: July 1-12, 2020
The Toronto Fringe will look a little different this year. Due to the pandemic, the annual Toronto Fringe Festival has been cancelled for the first time in 32 years.
Unfamiliar with the Toronto Fringe? The Toronto Fringe Festival was inspired by the worldwide Fringe movement (which originated from Edinburgh), the “Toronto Fringe was founded by a cluster of local indie artists in 1989 to offer the ‘fringes’ of the performing arts community a platform to create art at a grassroots level” (Toronto Fringe, 2020). Since then, it has become the largest theatre festival in Ontario.
I was heartbroken when the Fringe first announced this year’s cancellation (I’m a theatre lover & was a venue manager at least year’s festival). However, the Toronto Fringe has announced it’s going digital; introducing the first Fringe Collective.
The Toronto Fringe Collective has 70+ listings from 50+ Fringe 2020 artists.
Performances will come in one of three formats: video, audio or written.
Each performance company a part of The Collective was supposed to present work at the 2020 Toronto Fringe Festival. All content is divided into 4 Acts (depicted below). Act 1: July 1-3 Act 2: July 4-6 Act 3: July 7-9 Act 4: July 10-12
Each Act includes content from a cross section of artists & is listed at a PWYC price. However, it is recommended to pay a minimum of $13 (the average ticket price of a Fringe show pre-pandemic). Each Act will be available to enjoy for 72 hours. To purchase a ticket or find out more information, click here.
As a non-profit organization, all profits obtained through The Toronto Fringe Collective will be split 30/70 for the Fringe & its 50+ artist companies, respectively.
Patrons who would like to support The Toronto Fringe & its artists more can also add a tip at checkout (which I highly suggest!), or purchase a Fringe Collective Membership for $100. These memberships gives customers access to all the Fringe Collective Acts, plus member perks & giveaways. You can also purchase Fringe merchandise directly from their website.
Shows I have my eye on:
· Absolute Magic: A Choose You Own Magic Show (Act 1)
· Medium Hot Coffee Black; Just Like My Soul (Act 1)
· A Perfect Bowl of Pho (Act 2)
· Under Pressure – Quaranteen Edition (Act 3)
· 9428 (Act 4)
To read the description of these shows, & to see the whole catalogue of performances, check out The Fringe Collective brochure here.
As a Fringe lover, I will be watching each Act, so keep an eye on my Instagram for more recommendations & reviews!