PREVIEW: HAMILTON FRINGE BRINGS TALENT, TENACITY and THEATRICS THIS SUMMER…
The Hamilton Fringe Festival holds a very special place in this theatre-lover’s heart. I have been actively involved in many capacities since 2006 and each year I watch this community build, adapt and thrive. I have met wonderful people from all over the globe, seen incredible theatre works come to life (virtually and/or in person) and in 2017, the Fringe inspired me to create Steel City Reviews.
This year celebrates the 22nd annual Hamilton Fringe Festival and the anticipation is high to make this the most memorable festival yet. There’s familiar venues to visit like Theatre Aquarius, The Westdale, The Players Guild, and Mills Hardware. There’s the Mini Fringe Showcase at Backroom @ Ringside on James Street North where you can see some first timers and seasoned creative minds showcasing new work in 20 minute time slots. There’s the indie darling The Staircase which is hosting several shows within its three theatre spaces and, new this year, The Saint Luke’s Mission and Centre for Talking Arts will be hosting as Bring Your Own Venues and showing Hamilton audiences new spaces for theatrical and philosophical work.
Variety is part of what makes attending Fringe so much fun. This year, Steel City Reviews will go from shows about love and craic, to oversharing puppets, to political outcries, to women raging gracefully. There’s shows that are movement pieces, comedic solo storytellers, playwright contest winners, reflective social commentaries, coming of age stories, reimagining and retellings and even rebel spirits, seances, musical improv and seeing life through the padding of a tampon. There are many Fringe veterans involved but the amount of newcomers this year is impressive and exciting.
For those interested in FREE walking tours while engaging with theatrical storytelling, Fringe on the Streets returns this year and features a wide range of storytellers and performers guiding you through the downtown core.
Your support is what keeps this festival thriving. The participants in the Fringe keep 100% of the ticket sales and the Fringe itself is supported by Tipping the Fringe at a performance, donations and purchasing Fringe buttons. There’s also a wonderful FRINGE BOULEVARD located on King William St at James Street North, which transforms the street into a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly hub filled with music, dance, vendors, drag, film, painting, and performance. All the programming is FREE!! Drop by during the festival 10AM – 11PM to check out what the Fringe Festival event planners have going on.
So, spend some time this July and check out this theatre festival. It’s an accessible way to see what the arts in Hamilton bring this city each year. There’s no exaggeration saying there is literally something for everyone. Most shows are only 60 minutes too, so why not take a chance on something outside your comfort zone? It might just be the best thing you see this summer. If you are a long-time devotee or a first timer, let’s have an astounding time so we can do it again and again for years to come.
