Vancouver Fringe
Photo by Anita Kaur.
Vancouver Fringe was formed in 1983 with a mission to produce ‘theatre for everyone’ in Vancouver and beyond. The society initiated its first Fringe Festival in 1985, which over 40 years later, has gone on to become the largest theatre festival in BC. Since then, Vancouver Fringe is proud to have established itself as a leading force in the BC arts community, and a permanent fixture in Vancouver’s annual events calendar.
The Fringe employs an ‘everyone is welcome’ selection technique. Each year, applicants are thrown into a lottery draw geared at providing all artists, from novice to veteran, equal chance to participate. The Fringe strives to break down traditional boundaries and encourages open dialogue between audiences and artists by presenting live un-juried, uncensored theatre in an accessible and informal environment. All artists receive 100% of regular box office revenues generated during the Festival.
The Fringe revels in its identity as half theatre/half party, with artists, audiences, and volunteers alike invited to take part in an array of live music and performances. The Fringe also features some of Vancouver’s best theatre venues, including the Revue Stage, Performance Works, and Waterfront Theatre – all situated on and around the city’s cultural and creative hub, Granville Island. The ‘Bring Your Own Venue’ (BYOV) category uniquely allows artists to stage original work in unconventional places, including site-specific locations both indoors and out.
Regardless of location, the Fringe has always embodied a passion for entertainment without boundaries, and today sees visitor numbers in excess of 40,000, facilitated by over 500 volunteers that graciously support the Society in making its mission a reality.
