Latest news with #FringeFestival
Hamilton Spectator
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Behind the Fringe curtain: Get creative, or die trying
When it comes to writing, there are only three rules: write, write, write. When it comes to writing a play for the Fringe Festival, the rules change exponentially: Write, direct, stage manage, produce, and do the tech if you're not actually on stage performing. Oh, and sell the hell out of your play. Hamilton's Brian Morton knows this. He's been doing it almost since the festival started in Hamilton 20-plus years ago. The first Hamilton Fringe play he ever did was a one-person show in 2006. At the time, Morton was a venue tech, but the Fringe organizers had no budget to pay crew, 'so they gave me a slot and I performed 'Krapp's Last Tape,'' a one-act, single-hander that Samuel Beckett wrote in 1957. Such one-person shows, Morton said, are the bread-and-butter of Fringe because they're easy to produce, 'but they're hard to market. It's so hard to distinguish yourself.' Megan Phillips and the team behind 'Cheese Pervert' takes the show to the mother church of Fringe festivals, to Edinburgh, in August. They're the bread-and-butter because a playwright/director/producer/publicist doesn't have to hire a crew to help. That helps moneywise since 100 per cent of the base ticket price of every show goes to the artists. It also means one person has to carry the load. Lisa Randall, of Toronto, figures she's up to the task. Randall comes to the Fringe this year in an almost roundabout way. She and a collaborator won a spot through the Fringe lottery — which plays get to be staged are selected by a Bingo ball machine. Later, her partner got a spot in the Toronto Fringe and Randall found herself with a Fringe spot and having to go solo. But not to worry: This is her seventh Fringe production, including Toronto and Vancouver. 'It was a good nudge,' Randall said, or a good kick in the pants to finally write 'Sister Sophia Kicks the Habit.' Randall had two aunts who were nuns. The surviving one is 98 and lives in the Mother House in a small Ontario city. 'I stopped practising Catholicism after my parents divorced, the way many people do. At the time of the divorce one of my mother's sisters told her she was going to go to hell.' That was more than enough for Randall to disengage from them and the church. But then she 'started to learn things about their lives — and they became so important to me, not as Catholics but as family members. I gained a deep compassion for them. The play is like a tribute.' Two other solo woman shows are in the works for this year's edition of the Fringe: 'Horseface,' featuring U.K.-born, Toronto-based artist Alex Dallas and directed by Clare Barry, herself a veteran of the Canadian Fringe tour; and 'Catching a Cheese Pervert,' co-written by Kayla Kurin and Krista Rowe (also the director) and starring Megan Phillips. For Dallas, it seems a lot of the hard work for 'Horseface' (the name comes from the Trump insult against Stormy Daniels) has been completed. The show premiered in Orlando in 2019 and has played in Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, Calgary, Edmonton and Victoria. 'Horseface' features U.K.-born, Toronto-based artist Alex Dallas. 'The show came about after #MeToo and the Weinstein trial. I became so enraged about what was being revealed about women's lives that I started to reflect on my own in relation to the way I have been treated by men — teachers, boyfriends, strangers — and I put that rage and comedy into a show.' The show's success and Donald Trump's 34 felony convictions are their own publicity. That 'Horseface' won Best in Show awards in Ottawa and Orlando helps. The Kurin-Phillips-Rowe collaboration also has its origin in the headlines. 'The show is (loosely and unfortunately) inspired by the bizarre real-life case of the 'Swiss Cheese Pervert,' a man who made headlines in Philadelphia in the early 2010s for his … dairy-centric public indecency,' Rowe said. 'We took that strange but true headline and ran it through a feminist glow-up of corporate greed, environmental collapse, and Canada's most ridiculously powerful interest group, the dairy lobby.' In their case, as well as with Dallas and Morton, collaboration seems to be the key to a successful production. Randall even found that as well as working solo was going, collaborating has kicked it up a notch. Randall had worked on 'Sister Sophia' for several years, 'monologue by monologue' (even writing three songs for it) before she showed some of them to another friend, Kate Johnston, an award-winning filmmaker. 'She asked questions I hadn't thought of,' which proved helpful in finding the arc of the story. As for Morton, he's been working with Hamilton musician Chris Cracknell for more than 20 years. 'It's usually his playing Robin to my Batman, but instead, this time, it's me as Robin to his Batman.' Their play has what can be described as a uniquely Fringe title: 'A Non-Canonical Musical Adventure with Pookamhura: Mistress of B-Roll.' It's based on a 12-episode YouTube series Cracknell created about the gaming world. The Fringe play is 'noncanonical,' meaning audience members don't have to be gamers or know the web series to follow the story line, which is about self-discovery, gender identity and the complexities of life. Also uniquely Fringe. The collaboration between Cracknell and his four actors, two of whom are transgender and new to the stage, is a 'creative act of faith, like jumping off a cliff and hoping it will come out OK,' Morton said. The team behind 'Cheese Pervert' takes the show to the mother church of Fringe festivals, to Edinburgh, in August. They, too, have worked together for some time, first connecting while filming a short comedy, 'Break Up Time Machine.' They quickly discovered a shared comedic sensibility rooted in absurdism, a mutual disdain for nepo babies, and a love/hate relationship with therapy, Rowe said. After the show's been written, cast and rehearsed, there's the small matter of publicity. Hamilton Festival Theatre Co., the Fringe's parent organization, has organized online meetings with producers to guide them in getting the word out. 'The Fringe's job is to get 200 people out to the Fringe every day. Your job is to convince those 200 people to catch your show at 4 o'clock,' Morton said. Yet, in the end, it still comes down to the work itself, what the playwright, director and actor leave on the stage. Everyone else is invited along for the ride. How uniquely Fringe.
BBC News
29-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
BBC Sounds announced as the official fringe festival partner for Crossed Wires 2025
BBC Sounds has been announced as the official Fringe Festival partner of Crossed Wires Festival – the UK's biggest podcasting celebration which will take place in Sheffield from 4 to 6 July 2025. Over three jam-packed days, BBC Sounds will invite podcast and radio fans to experience live recordings and special sessions in the old Cole Brothers Department Store in Barkers Pool, Sheffield. The famous Grade II listed building – which originally opened in 1963 – will be transformed into a vibrant BBC Sounds hub for the weekend, reimagining the historic retail space for an entirely new purpose. Inside the venue, visitors can listen to special live recordings of popular podcasts including Football Daily, Newscast and Evil Genius, all of which will air later in the year on BBC Sounds. Literary lovers can settle down with Sara Cox and bestselling author David Nicholls for a special edition of Radio 2 Book Club, and for Radio 4's Rewinder Greg James will be joined by a special guest to dig deep into the BBC Archives and uncover an array of audio gems - including some with Sheffield connections. Fans of Radio 4's investigative series will be able to go behind the scenes of their favourite narrative podcasts with Gabriel Gatehouse (The Coming Storm) and Sue Mitchell (To Catch a Scorpion), whilst Frank Skinner will bring top comedians to Sheffield for two special recordings of One Person Found This Helpful. And to celebrate 100 years of the Shipping Forecast, Radio 4 announcers Lisa Costello and Viji Alles will take us behind the scenes of the beloved radio broadcast. For those looking for a moment of tranquillity, there will also be an immersive session of music and mindfulness with Radio 3 Unwind. Outside the venue, the BBC Sounds Garden will offer a relaxed, open-air listening experience, where visitors can settle into a deck chair, slip on some headphones, and enjoy their favourite audio in an outdoor setting. Jonathan Wall, Director of BBC Sounds says: 'We're delighted to join forces with Crossed Wires as the official fringe festival partner. Delivering value for audiences all over the UK is a big priority for us, so to be able to bring this level of talent and creativity to Sheffield - and for free - is really exciting. These will be memorable live shows and experiences that money can't buy. Crossed Wires is exactly the kind of event we want to be part of.' Tickets for the BBC Fringe are free and the line up goes live on Friday 6 June at 11am. You can reserve seats for individual shows via the external Crossed Wires website. Do note that entry on the day will be first-come, first-served, even with a ticket, so we recommend arriving early to secure your place. The festival will take place from 4 to 6 July 2025. The BBC Sounds Garden The BBC Sounds Garden will offer a welcoming space where you can lose yourself in the audio you love. Settle into a deck chair or bean bag, slip on some headphones, and enjoy a moment of calm with live radio, on-demand music, or your favourite BBC podcasts. You'll find the BBC Sounds Garden in Barkers Pool, right across from Sheffield City Hall and beside our Fringe venue in the Cole Brothers Department Store. There's also a photo booth where you can snap some shots with friends and family. AT2
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Top 10 things to do this weekend: Festival season is in full swing
It's never a dull weekend in Cincinnati, and this one is no exception, with plenty to see and do. Summer's approaching, and that means warm weather, fried concession food, live music and outdoor festivals. There's a festival for everyone. For the art lovers, check out some cool artwork at Summerfair, or if you prefer body art, go to Cincinnati Villain Arts Tattoo Festival. For the foodies, grab something to eat at CincItalia or Lebanon Mediterranean Food Festival. If music's more your jam, go to Midwest Friends Fest. For the theater geeks, watch experimental shows at the Fringe Festival. And don't forget that June marks Pride Month. Kick off the month at a Pride celebration event. Have an event you'd like us to know about? Submit it online at and we'll tell the world about it. Head to that same site to peruse our full calendar of events. Get inspired at this three-day, more-than-50-year-old festival of music and art. Summerfair supports artists in visual and performing arts in the Queen City. Funds raised are put toward awards, scholarships and exhibitions. Details: noon-7 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, Coney Island, Kellogg Avenue at I-275, Anderson Township. Explore the art of tattooing at the Cincinnati Villain Arts Tattoo Festival. Special guests will include TV stars from "Ink Master" and featured tattoo artist Jack Hatchet. Entertainment includes tattoo contests and sideshow artists, including contortionists, magicians and burlesque. Peruse unique vendors and get exclusive merchandise. Details: 2-11 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday, Sharonville Convention Center, 11355 Chester Road, Sharonville. $40 3-day pass, $20 per day. Italian food is the star attraction here, with traditional fare such as stromboli, pasta, pizza, lasagna, cannoli and gelato. Enjoy live music by DV8 on Friday, plus cooking demonstrations, wine tastings, games, rides and more. Details: 6 p.m.-midnight Friday, 3-11 p.m. Saturday, 1-9 p.m. Sunday, Harvest Home Park, 3961 North Bend Road, Cheviot. Friday is ages 21-up only. Celebrate the long-running Cincinnati summer theatre party. Experience uncensored, experimental performance from more than 40 independent local, national and international theater artists. This event features 26 primary lineup productions, over 190 performances, 32 world premieres, Kids Fringe performances on weekend afternoons, free nightly after-hours events at the Know and, new this year, Conceptual Fringe. Details: May 30-June 14, 1-10 p.m. weekends, 6-10 p.m. weekdays (excluding Mondays), Know Theatre, 1120 Jackson St., Over-the-Rhine. $330 all access pass, $90 5-ticket flex pass, $20 single tickets. Now encompassing two days, this music festival features 42 bands from Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky, Dayton, Columbus and national acts that include Signals Midwest, Mike Adams at His Honest Weight, Kat and the Hurricane, Leisure Hour, Cinema Stare, The Tisburys and Super City. Details: 7 p.m. Friday, 3 p.m. Saturday, Southgate House Revival, whole house, 111 E. Sixth St., Newport. $40 2-day pass, $30 Saturday only, $20 Friday only. It's the season for spinning festival rides and fried foods. Enjoy something new on each day of this three-day festival. On Thursday, catch a parade and live band. On Friday, stop by the Makers Market and Big Six Wheel for Charity. Saturday, come to the Youth Market and dunking booth. Details: 5-10 p.m. Thursday, 5-11 p.m. Friday, noon-11 p.m. Saturday, Riverside Park, 425 Victor Stier Drive, Milford. This charity events offers a 10K, 5K, one mile and Gapper's Kids Fun Run. Participants receive custom race medal, shirt and chip-timing with live results. Celebrate at the post-race party in the fan zone. Also included is a view-level ticket to the June 17 game. Details: 8 a.m. Saturday, Great American Ball Park, 100 Joe Nuxhall Way, Downtown. Experience authentic, homemade, Middle Eastern food. Your patronage will help refugees and victims in the Middle East. Details: noon-6 p.m. Sunday, St. Anthony of Padua Church, 2530 Victory Parkway, Walnut Hills. Free admission and parking. Sunday marks the first day of Pride Month. Wear a colorful ensemble and attend a local event to celebrate. Here are a couple of them. : noon-5 p.m. Sunday, Goebel Park, 502 Philadelphia St., Covington. : 8:30 p.m. Sunday, MOTR Pub, 1345 Main St., Over-the-Rhine. This huge event spans OTR from Pendleton to Vine. Browse and buy art directly from the artists. There are more than 250 studios over four buildings. Shops will host artists, and there will be pop-up bars and live music. Details: 5-9 p.m. Friday, Pendleton Art Center, 1310 Pendleton St. Valet parking is $10. Free admission. Due to weather, the opening for this waterpark was pushed back. Dive into over 100 challenging pieces on an inflatable floating obstacle course, featuring launch pads, cliffhangers, halfpipes and towering action stations. Details: Opens Saturday and continues daily, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Saturday, noon-6 p.m. Sunday, Land of Illusion Adventure Park, 8762 Thomas Road, Middletown. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Things to do in Cincinnati this weekend: May 30-June 1, 2025
CTV News
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Cathedral Village Arts Festival considering expansion
Regina Watch WATCH: The Cathedral Village Arts Festival is considering expansion following the cancellation of the Folk and Fringe Festivals. Wayne Mantyka reports.
RNZ News
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
The Mixtape: Deva Mahal
This audio is not downloadable due to copyright restrictions. Photo: supplied Hawaiian-born New Zealand musician Deva Mahal has had quite the 2025. From watching her dad win his fifth Grammy Award, to releasing her latest single South Coast featuring Estère, even preforming at the Fringe Festival audience in Wellington, Deva Mahal has been busy. Stacked schedule aside, Deva Mahal made some time to sit and select the soulful songs that have sound tracked her life and career in music with Kara Rickard on The Mixtape. Songs Played: Karyn White - Superwoman Mary J. Blige - I'm Goin' Down Stevie Wonder - I Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer Des'ree - Kissing You Frank Ocean - Pink Matter
