Sault's inaugural fringe festival starts next weekend

Fringe North is the Sault’s first annual festival and it promises to be August’s major arts and entertainment event

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NEWS RELEASE

FRINGE NORTH INTERNATIONAL THEATRE FESTIVAL

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Fringe North International Theatre Festival is going to unleash 11 days of fun in Sault Ste. Marie.

From Aug. 10-20, fringers will enjoy high calibre and often edgy theatre, busking, art, music and an ambitious Kids Fringe program, all at a very low cost.

The global fringe festival movement has been growing for 70 years. Fringe North is the Sault’s first annual festival and it promises to be August’s major arts and entertainment event.

In the theatre, headliners include Calgary’s HeARTbeat Theatre Productions, an acclaimed children’s troupe, and Sudbury’s Remembering Aimee company, brainchild of Sarah Gartshore, a former resident of St. Joseph Island and Batchewana First Nation.

Local theatre mainstays Timothy Murphy and Bob Cooper have created a one-act musical just for Fringe North.

Among the street performers, Paz, a popular juggler, acrobat and stunt man known for his hockey circus show, will switch-hit with a new tribute to baseball. As well, Brazil’s Diogo Alvares brings his masterful manipulations, illusions and magic to the Sault’s first-ever Fringe Festival.

Ticket prices are set by the artists, who receive all proceeds. But they are capped at $12 and average considerably lower.

A $3 Fringe button helps fund the not-for-profit, volunteer-driven festival and is required to see the shows and access at Bondar Pavilion main stage, where there will be buskers, musicians, food and a beer tent.

It’s a Fringe With Benefits, because button-buyers will enjoy perks, discounts or coupons from many downtown businesses.

But it won’t cost kids a nickel to enjoy Kids Fringe, daily from noon to 7 p.m. at the Bondar Pavilion. Kid fringers can take in performances by artists and buskers, participate in workshops and art activities, dance, sing, create, learn or just play dress-up with theatrical costumes — all for free.

Fringe North has lots more going on, including an Art Crawl in collaboration with The Arts Council of Algoma featuring local artists at various venues.

For all the details go to www.fringenorth.ca. Or drop in to the Fringe North office in the Downtown Association offices at 496 Queen St.

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