Hamilton Festival Theatre Company

Logo with stylized letters 'HFT' in purple, blue, and teal, and the word 'co' in smaller teal font on a yellow background.

Frost Bites returns!

February 27-March 8, 2026

Frost Bites is Hamilton’s only winter theatre festival, and They’re heating up the coldest weeks of the year with bold storytelling, community events, and intimate performances in surprising spaces.

This year’s festival features new works at Theatre Aquarius, family-friendly activities at the Bernie Morelli Recreation Centre, and—back by popular demand—form-busting immersive performances in the weird nooks and crannies of the historic Staircase Theatre + Lounge.

Schedule and ticket details to be announced.

Visit HFTco.ca/Frost-Bites for more infomation!

Quotes from Fringe 2025

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Quotes from Fringe 2025 〰️

Promotional poster for a theatrical production titled 'First Reviews Are In!' featuring quotes praising the show from Steelcity Reviews. The poster includes a small illustration of a tree and references to themes of theater and humor in the content.
Two young men kissing, with one holding the other's chin, against a comic-style yellow background with red and black starburst accents. Overlaid are two text boxes, one blue and one red, containing reviews and commentary about a meat market. The blue text box discusses surprises in gay culture, while the red text box quotes a review praising the play's humor and characters.
A man takes a selfie at a table with toy horses, using a plaid shirt and a watch. A hat floats in the air, and quotes about musicals are on the wall behind him.
Promotional graphic for Ostrich Park featuring the park name with a stylized ostrich logo, a red burst shape with the text "REVIEWS ARE IN!" inside, and a quote praising the ensemble and production quality. There is a cartoon illustration of an ostrich's head in the bottom right corner.
Poster advertising a fringe show called 'The Pole Shabang' featuring Andrea James Lui, at the Hamilton Fringe Festival, showing a woman in red thigh-high boots performing pole dance against a fiery background, with show dates and venue at Theatre Aquarius.
Text advertisement for Steel City Reviews promoting a product called 500 Doubloons, highlighting its fun, pirate-themed storytelling, wordplay, and ensemble adventures.
Crane Girl from Falling Iguana Theatre
Quote from Steel City Reviews describing a fearless improv group as easy-going, quick-witted, and increasingly ridiculous, with Fringe Festival and improv-related logos.
Poster with a fiery background displaying a quote about character in acting, referencing 'Taitt' and 'wing', with the logos of Hamilton Festival Theatre and Minmar Gaslight in the top corners.
A woman sitting at a wooden table with an open book or script in front of her, looking down with a serious expression. There are four text quotes around her praising Jensen Porter and her performance. The background shows a door and a window, and part of a chair and some clothing on the floor.
The Damage Done by Matthew Willson Productions
Poster for Liz, A Traumatic Comedy at Elaine Mae Theatre, featuring a quote from Steel City Reviews and a QR code
A person with red hair and beard, wearing a colorful shirt, holding their hands near their face with yellow painted nails and an expression of surprise. The image contains a quote at the top, a review of Steel City Reviews, and the person is set against a dark background.
Woman dressed as a clown wearing a red nose and red wristbands, standing behind two cardboard boxes on stage, with theatre curtains on one side and a blank screen behind her. The image includes overlay text about a clown comedy musical called 'Hope in Hot Times' with reviews from Steel City Reviews.
A man with a beard wearing a dark t-shirt and shorts is dancing in front of a screen. The screen displays the text 'EVEN'. There are boxes and bags around him, and the background includes a door with an exit sign. A quote overlay reads, 'If you don't mind the gaps, check this one out.' - Steel City Reviews.
A theatrical performance takes place on stage with a man sitting cross-legged in a black tank top and white pants, looking upwards. The background screen displays the title of the play in Hindi, with the English abbreviation (COW) below it. The stage has minimal props, including a net and a cloth, and the backdrop is a plain brownish color. There are logos and reviews at the top of the screen, including one from Steel City Reviews highlighting the play as a captivating piece of theatre.