Fringe Festival Review 2019

It’s Theatrically Delicious!

2019 FESTIVAL REVIEW

Table of Contents Executive Director’s Message........................ 3 About the Fringe.............................................. 4 2019 Demographics......................................... 5 Our Program Guide.......................................... 6 Events Opening Night featuring 9 the Georgia Straight Fringe-For-All..........

Artists’ Cabaret........................................... 10 Awards Night/Raffle................................... 11 Workshops................................................... 12 Partnership Opportunities Festival Hub................................................ 14 Phillips Fringe Bar...................................... 15 Volunteer Centre & Volunteer Appreciation Party....................

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Why Sponsor?

Become a Sponsor......................................

Thanks Partners!.........................................

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2019 Photographers

For Sponsorship Information and Opportunities, Please Contact Chelsey Stuyt Director of Sponsorship and Development chelsey@vancouverfringe.com

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Al Ricard Anita Kaur Brandon Law Courtney McLachlin Ellyn Chen John Roxas Marie-Catherine Massie Monique Sello

Neil Bryan Pierre Charlebois Ravi Manhas Sam Krochmal Sarah McNeil Simone Leslie Tomek Michniewicz

2019 Festival Review VancouverFringe.com

Message from The Executive Director I am pleased to report that the 2019 Vancouver Fringe Festival—our 35th anniversary Festival—was a great success! We are particularly proud of the steps we took this year towards realizing the Vancouver Fringe Theatre Society’s vision of Theatre for Everyone.

With the support of TD Bank Group and in partnership with Neworld Theatre, we launched the TD Fringe Forward Award. It was thrilling to recognize THEATRECORPS’ show tadpole.: the last episode as the best production that centred the work of artists from historically marginalized communities. Created and performed by an African woman of mixed heritage, this show encouraged audiences to re-examine what they know about mental health in a very moving way.

Other Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion work included launching an accessible parking program and expanding our offerings for those requiring special seating due to mobility issues. In addition to several performances including ASL (American Sign Language) interpretation, we also offered these services for all four of our artist and community workshops. One of these well attended workshops explored Next Steps in Arts Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, and another addressed Radical Collaborative Inclusive Theatre.

We were pleased to have a larger number of community members step up to volunteer for this year’s Festival than we have seen in many years.

This, along with again winning the Georgia Straight Readers’ Choice for Best Local Performing Arts Festival, demonstrates significant community engagement and investment in the Vancouver Fringe Festival.

Thanks to everyone who supported the 2019 Festival in so many ways.

I’d like to personally thank all our sponsors. The support of many ongoing sponsors is what allows the Festival to run in its current form, providing the community with the incredible volume, breadth, and diversity of shows for everyone’s enjoyment.

We look forward to seeing you again next year!

Fringe-fully yours, Laura Efron, Executive Director

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2019 Festival Review VancouverFringe.com

About The Fringe Our Vision

Theatre for Everyone!

Our Mission

Cultivating artists and audiences to create an open and vibrant independent theatre community.

The Vancouver Fringe Festival is a celebration of all kinds of theatre and the community it cultivates.

Produced annually by the Vancouver Fringe Theatre Society (VFTS), the Festival takes place over 11 days in September with nearly 500 volunteers supporting over 100 artists and 700+ performances. Now entering its 36th year, the Fringe Festival is consistently voted Vancouver’s Best Performing Arts Festival by Georgia Straight readers and attracts over 35,000 attendees.

The Fringe employs an “everyone is welcome” selection technique—the Mainstage shows are literally drawn out of a hat, giving all artists—from emerging to established—a chance to participate. The Fringe strives to break down traditional barriers and encourage access to theatre and open dialogue between audiences and artists. The Fringe supports artists, ensuring they receive 100% of the base ticket price, as well as access to mentoring, awards, and workshops.

Reveling in its identity as part theatre, part party, every night of the Festival, Fringe artists, audiences, and volunteers are invited to take in live music and performances by some of Vancouver’s coolest indie bands at the Phillips Fringe Bar. Presenting live un-juried, uncensored theatre in an accessible and informal environment, the Vancouver Fringe Festival takes place in some of Vancouver’s best venues including the Red Gate Revue Stage, Performance Works, and Waterfront Theatre, situated on and around Granville Island as well as in East Vancouver.

History The VFTS was formed in 1983 with the mission to produce “Theatre for Everyone,” which led to the first Vancouver Fringe Festival in 1985. Now, more than 30 years later, the VFTS has established itself as BC’s largest performing arts Festival.

We Are A Charity The Vancouver Fringe Theatre Society is a registered not-for-profit charitable society (charitable tax #11891 9547 RR0001). With 100% of regular ticket sales going to the artists, our donors and sponsors are who make the Festival happen. Thank you for your support!

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2019 Festival Review VancouverFringe.com

2019 Demographics

Attendance

35,000+

Age AGE

Attendance

14,000+ Unique Visitors

350,000+

Approximate Number of Granville Island Visitors During September (the Festival’s month)

Social Media

4,857+

Newsletter Recipients

9,155

Facebook Fans

10,990+ Twitter Followers

<19 2%

19–35 27%

50–65 30%

>65 19%

Household Income Below 11% $30,000 $30,000 11% to $50,000 $50,001 22% to $100,000 $100,001 16% to $250,000 Over 4% $250,000 Rather 36% Not Say

Education High 10% School Trade School 14% Bachelor’s 39% Degree Masters 30% or PhD Rather Not Say

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36–49 22%

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2019 Festival Review VancouverFringe.com

Our Program Guide Our 64-page Program Guide is an essential means of communication between the Fringe and its patrons!

Every year, Fringers wait for the Program Guide release to learn about the Festival shows and check performances schedules. In 2019, we printed 25,000 copies which were primarily distributed at Blenz Coffee locations in Vancouver at the end of July and remained on stands and in stores through the end of September.

The fantastic cover design by former Fringe performer Chris Ross attracted 18,000+ online impressions and 6,000+ reads. Program Guide ads receive a lot of attention from our audience both online and offline.

25,000+ Copies

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18,000+

Online Impressions

6,000+ Reads

2019 Festival Review VancouverFringe.com

EVENTS

Opening Night

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2019 Festival Review VancouverFringe.com

Opening Night featuring The Georgia Straight Fringe-For-All September 4, 2019 at Performance Works Capacity: 300 People

The Georgia Straight Fringe-For-All takes place every year on the first night of the Festival and it is the best way to preview shows. This year the Fringe-ForAll was the featured event of our Opening Night Gala featuring food from The Keg, Dockside Restaurant, and Habibiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s as well as tastings from Road 13 Vineyards and Georgian Bay Spirit Co., the festivities kicked off well before our hosts hit the stage!

This year 40 of our 100 shows signed up to perform a two-minute preview!

The house was packed for this sold out show, with 300 people joining us at Performance Works!

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We were honoured to open the Festival with an official welcome by Thelma Stogan, a recognized Elder and community spokesperson amongst the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations, and two family members, Felicia Stogen (also a Musqueam Council Member) and Nicole Johnny. Then our hosts took the stage. Abdul Aziz (of Fake Ghost Tours) and Davey Calderon (Big Queer Filipino Karaoke Night!) carried us through 40 Fringe previews which gave us a taste of the variety of theatre on offer for the 11 days that followed. A mix of artists, media, donors, and patrons, this fundraiser brings out all the Fringers, and is a fun and Fringey kickoff to the Festival!

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Artists’ Cabaret Maldoror and Melmoth’s Cabaret of Bullshit We can’t tell you everything that goes on at this sort-of-but-not-really-top-secret event—it’s the kind of once in a lifetime event that only the people in the room will truly experience!

The Cabaret of Bullshit first took place in a café on Granville Island with only about 30 patrons in attendance and a handful of artists taking part.

Through the years it has grown to be one of the most anticipated shows of the Festival, selling out Performance Works year after year. In 2019 a packed house of Fringe Fans brought (or bought) flashlights and took their seats in a dark theatre. Then, for the next two hours were treated to one-off performances by almost 40 Festival artists. Using their flashlights as the only light in the room, patrons lit up wild and crazy acts like two creepy boys in matching sailor hats popping around the room. Or the ode to Fringe veteran, Jem Rolls’ non-existant smile. Or the heartfelt and mildly crazed rant of Dion Arnold as he went through the stages of flyering for a Fringe show. The Cabaret is a Fringe fundraiser, a sell out show, a one of a kind theatre event, and a quintessential Fringe experience!

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Awards Night / Raffle Once again, the Festival officially closes with the famous Fringe Awards Night! Access to the event was by donation to Performing Arts Lodges Vancouver, who provide subsidized housing for retired artists. At the Fringe Awards Night, we discover the year’s Awards— some of which are sponsored (the Georgia Straight Critics’ Choice Award by the Georgia Straight, BC Touring Council Award by the BC Touring Council, and the 2019 Public Market Pick of the Fringe Awards by the Granville Island Public Market) and we also do the draw for the Festival Raffle. Our Raffle is an important fundraiser for the Festival. Because 100% of base ticket revenues are paid directly to the Artists, the proceeds generated from the Raffle support Festival operations.

The night was hosted by the local comedians and Fringe artists Abdul Aziz and Emma Cooper who kept us entertained all night and ended with the Raffle draw and announcing the winners!

Grand Prize: A 7-day trip for 2 to Cuba from Finisterra Travel 2nd Prize: A Romantic Kelowna Vineyard Weekend Getaway from The View Winery Vineyard 3rd Prize: A Instant Camera Prize Pack courtesy of Quay Property Managment and a Vancouver Fringe Festival Kick Ass Pass for the 2020 Festival

Cultchivating the Fringe Award Mx

Joanna Maratta Award

Midtwenties Theatre Society (Two Modern Noh Plays

By Yukio Mishima)

The Georgia Straight Critics’ Choice Award

Josephine

The Fringe New Play Award Lili Robinson (Mx)

BC Touring Council Award Dandelion

Volunteer Choice Award

Josephine

Artistic Risk Award

Winner: Larry Runner Up: Rape is Real and Everywhere Honourable Mentions: Didn’t Hurt, Where the Quiet Queers Are, and How to Confront a Rhinoceros

The SOFA (Spirit of the Fringe Award)

Emma Cooper from Rape is Real and Everywhere

The 2018 Public Market Pick of the Fringe Awards

Tomatoes Tried to Kill Me but Banjos Saved My Life, Guards at the Taj, Larry, Old-ish, My Name is SUMIKO, and Pretty Beast.

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Workshops

For Artists and Aspiring Artists

The Fringe is a place for learning. Staff, volunteers, and artists are all situated to challenge themselves to learn and to teach others—informally and formally throughout our organization. Among other impacts, the Fringe has long been a cornerstone of development for emerging artists and, more recently, we’ve begun creating similar, opportunities for audience goers and artists alike.

Are We There Yet?

Powwow 101

• Are you a non-artist, artist, organizer, administrator, creator, and/or audience member?

• Are you interested in what’s been done recently in service to new models of brave space, intercultural and transcultural creative practices (or just want to know what that even means)?

• Does your identity intersect with gender, culture, race, visible/invisible-physical/mental/neurodiverse ability?

Ever wanted to learn the basics of Powwow dancing?

This interactive workshop by Powwow dancer and Fringe Artist Nyla Carpentier of the Tahltan and Kaska First Nation will teach participants the Indigenous history behind the dance steps, the various dance styles, and what protocols to expect when attending a Powwow. Open to Indigenous and Non-Indigenous participants. Wear clothes that you can sweat in and move in. Bring a water bottle!

Thursday, Sept. 12 at Studio 1398

Ask questions, listen to others, share ideas/experiences, and get moving (i.e. some movement activities included)?

Wednesday, Sept. 11 at Studio 1398

How to Tell a Story: with Jon Bennett

Radical Collaborative Inclusive Theatre

Work alongside internationally acclaimed comedianstoryteller Jon Bennett to find out what makes a story good and what makes a storyteller interesting.

In this workshop we’ll share stories, break them down, and cover the whole process of modern storytelling. Looking at ways to generate stories, find the appropriate structure, and what it takes to tell an entertaining story or even a create a whole storytelling show of your own. Bring a pen and paper and, if you have one, a short (under five-minute) story from your own life that you’d like to work on.

Experience a theatre process utilizing respect, rigour, and risk to bring together artists of all abilities, cultures, genders, and ages. Susanna Uchatius, Theatre Terrific’s Artistic Director, collaboratively creates with artists of all abilities, cultures, genders, and ages believing “life lived” is vital to shared theatre creation. We will focus on how to “be with,” play, work, and create theatre with those whom you may never have had the opportunity to “be with” due to perceived assumptions of difference.

Friday, Sept. 13 at Studio 1398

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Tuesday, Sept. 10 at Studio 1398

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PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Festival Hub It all starts at the Hub! The Fringe Hub is where the Fringe Box Office, Info Centre, and Raffle Centre are. Located near the main entrance to Granville Island, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a very busy spot! Many Fringe patrons frequent the Hub to purchase tickets to shows, raffle tickets, and to learn more about what shows are at the Festivalâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;not to mention all the passersby who just happen to be visiting Granville Island.

The visibility in the Hub is huge! The Festival Hub is an excellent location for sponsor activations, exposing your brand to thousands of Fringe and Granville Island visitors.

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2019 Festival Review VancouverFringe.com

Phillips Fringe Bar 1531 Johnston Street, Ocean Art Works on Granville Island Open from 6:00pm til Late Located at Ocean Art Works, in front of Ocean Concrete and next to the Creekhouse on Granville Island, this is the best place to meet fellow Festivalgoers and artists from across the country and around the world. For the 11 days of the Festival, the Stage at the Bar presented Vancouverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hottest local music!

No Fringe experience is complete without a trip to the Phillips Fringe Bar! This year, site activations included Phillips Brewing and Malting Co. beer and bottled sodas available behind the bar, beautiful BC craft cider from Wards, award winning wines by Road 13, and cocktail smashes by Georgian Bay Spirits. Patrons also enjoyed the safest experience possible thanks to Sober Guys Designated Driver Service Ltd. In addition to food trucks at the Bar Hub, we were serving pepperoni sticks and pickles while the Raffle tent was bumping all night long thanks to support from Finisterra Travel, The View Winery, and Quay Property Management.

We were very excited to partner with Good Night Out, a safe spaces training initiative, to ensure our bar was a safe and inclusive space for all.

BeatRoute Magazine provided online music support for the live music and DJs along with Soft Cedar and Cubeit Portable Storage helped us manage operations smoothly by providing safe storage space.

The Fringe Bar wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be possible without the support of CMHC Granville Island.

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2019 Festival Review VancouverFringe.com

Volunteer Centre / Appreciation Party Since performers collect 100% of the base ticket price, volunteers are the lifeblood of the Vancouver Fringe Festival. Each year, nearly 500 people from all walks of life take on volunteer roles. Volunteers do everything from helping set up venues, to answering artists’ and audience members’ questions, to serving drinks at the Phillips Fringe Bar, to selling tickets and ushering.

We have a very small staff team, so the Fringe simply could not function without volunteers.

The Volunteer Centre is an excellent opportunity for product sampling! Plus, volunteers roam around Granville Island during the Festival—their t-shirts are ideal for logo placements and brand awareness We reward our volunteers with an amazing party right after the Festival. This year the party was held at the Phillips Fringe Bar. There were special performances, delicious pizza, and four great flavours of ice cream from Earnest Ice Cream! Not to mention, volunteer awards and prizes! It is surely another great spot for activations and product sampling.

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2019 Festival Review VancouverFringe.com

WHY SPONSOR?

Become a Sponsor Businesses like yours form a key part of the success and growth of the Festival, enabling the Fringe to take the Festival to the next level. As the Fringe adds to its audience base and enhances their experiences, new and renewed strategic partnerships with sponsors play an indispensable role.

In turn, when you sponsor the Fringe, you reap the benefits of associating your company with the Best Performing Arts Festival as voted by Georgia Straight readers for over 15 years while developing a meaningful relationship with our large, diverse audience. With extensive social and print media exposure, an attendance of more than 35,000, unique attendance of approximately 14,000 and an additional 350,000+ Granville Island visitors during the Fringe month of September, the extent of your reach can be huge!

We invite you to become a Fringe sponsor. We pride ourselves on tailoring sponsor relationships to embrace each Partner’s unique vision and goals. To give you a sense of what is possible, below are some highlights of what you, your company, and its VIPs can enjoy.

Tailor-made Sponsorships may include: • Exclusive venue or event co-branding with the Fringe and associated marketing • Category exclusivity • Site activations (e.g., the Fringe Bar; Box Office Hub; within events) • Sampling or branded product/merchandise distribution (in addition to or as part of site activations) • Venue and event titling and curtain speech recognition • Festival-wide and/or Pick of the Fringe/Pick Plus curtain speech recognition • Profile at our Opening Night and other special events, with podium recognition and other associated marketing • E-newsletter feature article (4,800+ recipients) and/or advertising • Contest opportunities • Structured social media co-promotion (8,399+ Facebook Fans and 10,900+ Twitter followers) • Micro-activations with related advertising • Product/Services endorsements • Tickets to Opening Night, Pick of the Fringe, and special events

All Sponsors enjoy: • Logo placement in Festival Program Guide, on Partner Recognition Boards, website, and in select print ads and posters • Social media interaction • Advertising in Festival Program Guide (25,000 printed; over 18,000 online impressions) • Tickets to Mainstage performances • Invites to VIP and Sponsor meet and greet events

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2019 Festival Review VancouverFringe.com

Thanks Partners Our sponsors help make the Festival one of Vancouver’s most anticipated events of the year! Strategic cash and in-kind support from Partners take us from being a great Festival to an especially memorable one.

Whether it was at the Phillips Fringe Bar, the Opening Night and Fringe-For-All, special VIP events, in the Volunteer Centre, or Festival-wide through a number of initiatives, you make the difference!

We extend a huge welcome back to returning sponsors: our hosts, CMHC Granville Island, the Georgia Straight, TD Bank Group, Phillips Brewing and Malting, Wards Cider, Global BC, CKNW, The Status Bureau, Road 13 Vineyards, Blenz Coffee, The Keg, Thunderbolt Sign, Finisterra Travel, Georgian Bay Spirit Co., Habibi’s, PrintPrint.ca, Dockside Restaurant, BeatRoute Magazine, Sober Guys Driving, Clif, and Storage for Your Life. With so many combined years backing the Fringe, you form a key pillar of success and we thank you for joining us again!

Our new Partners made important impacts too, by supplying volunteers and artists with tasty treats, helping place the Fringe and its artists firmly on Vancouver’s radar and helping the Fringe community know exactly what’s happening!

To all our partners: Thanks! We simply couldn’t do it without you!

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2019 Festival Review VancouverFringe.com

Thanks Partners Government & Foundations

Presenting Partners

Leading Partners

Signature Partners

Supporting Partners

finisterra.ca

Sustaining Partners

Boosting Partners

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Festival Hubs Partners

2019 Festival Review VancouverFringe.com