Latest news with #FringeFestival
CTV News
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Fringe highlight: The Auntie Show
Jo MacDonald and Ryan Osodo bring sketch comedy with sass, secrets, and sold-out shows to this year's Fringe Festival.
The National
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The National
TransPennine Express to run extra trains during Edinburgh Fringe
TRANSPENNINE Express (TPE) is set to run up to three extra services a day for festivalgoers at this year's Edinburgh Fringe. The train operator will run the additional services from Saturday, August 2 until Friday, August 29 alongside its usual timetable to support those returning from Fringe shows. On weekdays, an evening service will depart Newcastle at 8:02pm, calling at Morpeth, Alnmouth, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Reston, Dunbar, and East Linton, before arriving at Edinburgh Waverley. READ MORE: The 'extraordinary' Neolithic village in Scotland that's older than the Pyramids A further service will leave Edinburgh Waverley at 9:56pm for Carlisle, stopping at Haymarket and Lockerbie. Andrew McClements, customer experience and transformation director at TransPennine Express, said: 'We are pleased to be able to offer these extra services for those travelling during the Fringe Festival and to support the city of Edinburgh during this popular event.' More than two million people are expected to travel the capital for the festival, with thousands of shows taking place across more than 250 venues in and around the city, so train services may be busier than usual. McClements added: 'We will be doing everything we can to help as many people as possible travel by rail during the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. 'We're asking our customers to plan ahead, expect services to be very busy and allow extra time for journeys.' For late-night travellers, a train will depart Edinburgh Waverley at 11:28pm, calling at East Linton, Dunbar, Reston, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Alnmouth and Morpeth, before arriving in Newcastle. On Saturdays, a service will run from Newcastle at 7:27pm to Edinburgh Waverley, calling at Morpeth, Alnmouth, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Reston, Dunbar, and East Linton. An additional evening departure from Edinburgh Waverley at 7:57pm will head to Carlisle, calling at Haymarket and Lockerbie. READ MORE: Why this 'breathtaking' and 'otherworldly' beach is named the best in Scotland A late service will also operate from Edinburgh Waverley at 10:02pm, calling at East Linton, Dunbar, Reston, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Alnmouth and Morpeth, before reaching Newcastle. Tom Thorburn, honorary president of Rail Action Group East of Scotland, said: 'We are delighted that TransPennine Express has positively responded to community requests and agreed to operate their late-night Edinburgh Festival trains during August again this year. 'With the addition of a late-night train on Saturdays this year in addition to the Monday to Friday trains which were very popular last year, these services are the answer to the travelling needs of people wishing to take in and enjoy the world's greatest festival in our area and beyond.'
CBC
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
2025 Hamilton Fringe Festival biggest in years and sure to 'spark joy,' says executive director
This year's Fringe Festival in Hamilton is "the biggest festival that we've had since the pandemic," said its executive director, Christopher Stanton. Stanton said there are over 400 performances happening in the city's downtown core over the next week. Many shows will be on more than once over the course of the 12-day festival, which started on Wednesday evening. Stanton said 2025 is a banner year for the festival, as it received over 200 applicants for 28 "main series" spots. "There's no sort of artistic director choosing what gets to go on the stages," he said. "It's either by a random draw or it is first come, first serve, so all of those folks that got in, they were chosen randomly." Stanton said this model gives new artists the same chance to get into the festival as those with more experience. "It really does level the playing field," he said. "It gives everybody a chance to have their voice heard and platformed." The festival has 18 indoor and outdoor stages around the city and an "insane diversity of shows," including magic and comedy shows, puppets, dances and musicals. "I guarantee something is gonna spark joy for you," said Stanton. The festival has transformed King William Street, part of which is now closed until mid-September, into a "vibrant, pedestrian-friendly hub filled with music, dance, drag, film, painting, and performance," noted the Hamilton Fringe website. "It's the living, beating heart of the festival—and the place to celebrate the weird, wild, and wonderful Hamilton Fringe community!" Programming on the street is free. Some shows and events include: Limb Loss, Love, a comedy show about the life and intersections of a disabled, mixed race and Jewish person. Fringe on the Streets – Outdoor Walking Tour, a free outdoor performance where attendees will "experience a wild and wonderful version of the city through live art." Brown Noise, a comedy play exploring different sides of the South Asian-Canadian experience. 3 Hours, 10 Minutes, a two-person drama play. A Very Queer Easter Pageant, a "drag-infused" comedy and "dramatization of the Bible's Easter story." Mind the Gaps, a performance from queer and disabled artist Nathan Lise exploring true stories from his life. Ugly Privilege, a stand-up comedy set with Vancouver comedian Jessica Pigeau. Hope in Hot Times, a "clown-inspired" physical comedy show. The Fruits that Rot in our Bellies, an "afro-surrealist ghost story" about a "young non-binary person coming face to face with the spirit realm." 500 Doubloons, a play about people's theories on a real story about a pirate who paid what is now worth $400,000 for a woman to take off her clothes. Visiting my Mother and Other Repetition Compulsions, a drama about "the complicated ways families love but not always like each other," according to its playwright, Patrick Michael Teed. Katherine Teed-Arthur, who is part od 500 Doubloons, said she's been to Fringe before and this year "feels special." "It feels like there's a real joy and exuberance and excitement for the Fringe this year that has been feeling like we were cautious in years prior, and now we've really come back into it and are able to embrace it without as much trepidation," Teed-Arthur said.
CBC
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
After a rocky post-pandemic recovery, Toronto's Fringe Fest finds stable ground
It's been a roller-coaster five years for the Toronto Fringe Festival. In 2020, it was cancelled completely thanks to the pandemic. In 2021, it went digital. The next three years were tough in different ways: the festival returned to in-person shows with disappointing audience numbers, temporarily lost a critical provincial grant, and cut down the number of shows it presented by a fifth. This year, says Toronto Fringe Festival executive director Rachel Kennedy, "I think we're in a really good spot." "Fringe has now placed things in a way that feels really good for us," she continued. "We're seeing the numbers corroborate that … it's definitely an upward trajectory." There are a couple of signs that the Fringe Festival, which began on July 2nd and runs through this weekend, may be getting its groove back. This year, the festival has expanded back to 100 shows, with steady audience numbers, says Kennedy. And, as of Thursday, it's surpassed $500,000 at the box office, all of which goes back to the artists. "That's half a million dollars going directly into artist pockets through the Fringe," all of whom are chosen by lottery, she said. "It's more than last year." The 'Avengers' of Toronto theatre Kennedy spoke to CBC Toronto on the patio next to Soulpepper Theatre, in the Distillery District — a new venue for Fringe, and, says Kennedy, a key part of this year's success. Late last year, Fringe signed on to a three year agreement with four other theatre companies, including Soulpepper, to "try to share knowledge and resources," said Kennedy. Called the Creative Collaboration Initiative, the agreement also includes Obsidian Theatre, The Musical Stage Company, and Bad Hats Theatre. "We actually had someone comment online and say, 'this is the Avengers of Toronto theatre,'" laughed Kennedy. The festival also expanded its offerings this year when it comes to genre, with a slate of musicals running at Theatre Passe Muraille as a Fringe satellite program. Britta Johnson is a Canadian composer and playwright whose award-winning musical 'Life After' follows a 16-year-old girl grappling with the death of her father. Loosely inspired by her own experiences, the show originally debuted at the Toronto Fringe Festival in 2016, but later this month, it will return to Toronto at the CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre. Britta sits down with guest host Garvia Bailey to talk about the massive success of 'Life After' and what it means to bring the show back to the city where it all began. If you enjoy this conversation, check out Tom Power's chat with playwright Katori Hall on 'The Tina Turner Musical.' A festival that feels 'robust' All of the rebuilt momentum means artists like Vancouver's Naomi Steinberg, appearing at the Toronto Fringe for the first time, can find new audiences. Steinberg's show, designed for children and called 'Goosefeather Kamishibai,' builds on a traditional style of Japanese storytelling that uses a wooden frame with pictures inside to weave a performance. "I was the very last person pulled in the kids' fringe section [artist lottery]. And I cannot tell you how exciting it was," she said backstage at Soulpepper after one of her performances. Patricia Allison, a former Fringe performer herself who mentors independent theatre-makers and artists at a Toronto organization called Generator, says she can feel a change in the wind this year. "This year's festival has felt really robust. The shows I've gone to have been really well-attended," she said — a relief after the "precarity" she watched them navigate after the pandemic. "A lot of artists and a lot work comes out of there," continued Allison. "We need to make sure that it's around for years to come."
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Rosie O'Donnell supported by fans after sad admission ahead of Edinburgh shows
American talk show host and comedian Rosie O'Donnell has admitted she's struggling ahead of her appearances in Edinburgh. The Hollywood star, known for The Rosie O'Donnell Show and hosting The View, will be performing at the Fringe from August 1 to 10. The eleven-time Emmy and Tony Award winner, who recently moved to Ireland, has promised an evening of 'humour and honesty' where she'll share her opnions on the 'subjects that matter the most'. The show, Common Knowledge, will be at The Gilded Balloon at Appleton Tower. However, with only a number of weeks before it kicks off, the actress has admitted it 'isn't easy'. READ MORE: Fans divided after Edinburgh Castle gig as Marti Pellow takes to stage READ MORE: 'I saw Kate Middleton at royal engagement and noticed one change' Speaking in a clip posted on TikTok, she said: "I've got this sore throat starting, not exciting. "I've got Wimbledon on mute and I'm trying to memorise my show for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, which is August 1 to 10. I've got about three weeks to do it. "I've got to tell you, it's not as easy as it was when I was younger. I used to read it a couple of times and I'd be good. Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox "A little overwhelming, but I'm very excited. Luckily I have a whole bunch of people working with me, and we're going to get it done." Her followers rallied behind her in the comments section. One posted: "You will knock it out of the park." Another added: "We are behind you every step of the way, sending much love and support as always." Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages. A third posted: "I'm sure you're going to do AMAZING!" A description for her Edinburgh Fringe show reads: "The eleven-time Emmy and Tony Award winner, known for her legendary career in film, television and stage, brings her highly anticipated debut show to the Fringe following her recent move from across the pond. "Join Rosie as she reflects on her life in the present, including why she moved to Ireland from the USA, and how that shift has shaped her future. With her signature blend of heart, humour and honesty, expect a night of laughter and reflection from a truly unique voice sharing her opinions on subjects that matter most – here and now.#"
