Latest news with #RachelKennedy
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."
The Sun
11-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Our town is a vile dust bowl making us ILL after months of relentless roadworks forced us to sell up
LOCALS in a market town are furious as roadworks continue to cause chaos nearly ten years on from when the work first started. The work on a residential development in Stafford began in 2016 after plans were submitted for 475 new homes. 9 9 9 While the houses have since been completed, the project is still far from finished as road improvement plans remain underway. These plans include a new dual-carriageway, re-configuring a roundabout and installing several new sets of traffic lights. However, beyond the works causing regular congestion on the A513, they have also left residents outraged. One angry local, Jade, said: 'It is just vile with all the dust and dirt. 'Now they have started work on the roundabout just by our place and there is digging, banging, and lorries reversing all through the night.' Jade went on to explain that she is a mother of four and her son has autism so is struggling with the noise. She added: 'My little boy has autism and won't sleep because of the noise. 'Everyone is fed up with the temporary lights and there being no safe spaces for kids to cross an A-road. "It is also making me ill." Houses in this development cost a premium of up to £500,000, which only resulted in the properties being featured on an episode of Rip off Britain. Teacher and mum-of-six, Rachel Kennedy moved to the development in October 2020. After experiencing flooding both in her garden and also in the nearby playground, she has described the roadworks as an 'added pain.' She explained that her mile long route to school now takes up to 30 minutes. Rachel said: 'I have walked it but with four children under seven it is difficult.' She also described the roundabout built at the top of her road as "unnecessary." Stafford Borough Council announced the works in February 2023, saying they would last 12 months. However, 28 months on there is still no end in sight for the disgruntled residents. Anton and his wife Tash, both 32, share similar frustrations to their neighbours. The pair, who own an electrical business, said: 'Everything about the estate is a pain.' Anton added: 'This was supposed to be a cul-de-sac but earlier this year they had to open it up as it was the only access point to the estate and we couldn't get onto our drive because of the queuing cars. 9 9 9 'People were driving into the cones in frustration.' In reference to the amount of dust the roadworks have caused, he added: 'The only people happy around here are the window cleaners.' Another fed-up local, Paula, 28, said: 'We moved in four years ago and no-one told us there would be a building site opposite with great piles of rubble. 'We will wash our cars and overnight they collect dust.' Paula, who works as a technical trainer, was promised green space upon moving to the development, however is still yet to see an end to the road works. She said: 'I understand the road works are necessary and will make things better but the finish date has been moved three times already.' Mother of four and salon owner, Bailey Wilkin, explained that it has now reached a point where some of her neighbours are trying to sell up. She said: 'People are selling up but with all these works going on the houses are devalued.' Another mum, Sophie, 28, added: 'The school runs are really bad. 'They take forever and I am late for work all the time. 'There are so many temporary traffic lights and lots of people suffering road rage. 'It's really unsafe.' A resident from Parkside estate on the other side of the A513, Christine Taylor, 74, said: 'My house could not be closer to the roundabout and they are working nights with diggers going all the time. 'It sets my dogs off barking all the time and now we are getting swarms of blue bottle flies. 'It must be something they've triggered. 'I filled out a form years ago for compensation but I'm quite sure nothing will come of it.' Reportedly, the works include dualling of the A513 Beaconside, the creation of a new signalised junction on the north side of the A513 and the signalisation of Newbold Drive. A Staffordshire County Council spokesperson said: 'As a new administration, we are well aware that the ongoing works at Beaconside being carried out by Taylor Wimpey as part of its Marston Grange development are causing considerable disruption. 'As this scheme is wholly developer-led the county council has minimal influence or control on the works or their progress. 'However we will maintain regular contact with Taylor Wimpey and continue to press them to conclude as quickly as possible. 'All updates on the scheme are provided by Taylor Wimpey.' A Taylor Wimpey representative added: 'We understand the frustrations of the local community whilst we carry out the programme of works for the highway improvement project. 'Whilst these improvements are aimed at reducing journey times, easing congestion and improving safety for residents and road users, we acknowledge that there have been some unexpected delays which have impacted the local community. 'We recognise the need for clearer communication, and would like to apologise for any inconvenience or confusion caused. 'We are committed to keeping disruption to a minimum, and we are working closely with stakeholders to ensure all works are completed by the end of November.' 9 9 9
