The 36th Annual Toronto Fringe Festival returns to the city from July 3 to 14, 2024, with 16 venues across the city playing host to 77 different shows. Toronto Fringe is the province’s largest performance festival, and it includes a broad range of shows from contemporary and experimental theatre, dance, comedy, storytelling, puppetry, musicals, and much more.
Here’s a peek at what’s on offer.
Ticketed Shows
Here’s a small sampling of the diverse shows audiences will experience this year. Which will be this year’s hit?
Bol, Brown Boy, Bol (Speak, Brown Boy, Speak) at Blackhurst Cultural Centre
This solo show spotlights a lost millennial GTA brown boy, who’s speaking up about racism and its impact on his life. The performance weaves storytelling and classical tabla, a percussion instrument common in Northern India, in a lively work. Tickets here.
Desperate Measures at Theatre Passe Muraille Backspace
Comedy meets bittersweet reality in this story of an unemployed opera singer (Pete) and Amy, who’s pregnant with his baby. As financial pressures weigh down, they find themselves selling Amy’s underwear online…Where will it end? Tickets here.
Rooted: A Musical Poem at Tarragon Theatre Extraspace
Two shows by Broadway actress Jewelle Blackman will premiere at Toronto Fringe. ROOTED is a contemporary fable that asks the question, what does it mean to be rooted? Does it change as we age? The musical poem includes R’n’B, soul, and soaring strings for a unique and thought provoking work. Tickets here.
Scenes From An Italian Restaurant at Al Green Theatre
A young musician’s path to fame finds a dark side of betrayal that ends in redemption. Jazz dance, vocals and dialogue, and the music of Billy Joel and Elton John, come together in a classic show biz story with a diverse cast. Tickets here.
ROSAMUND — A New Musical at Jeanne Lamon Hall, Trinity St Paul’s United
Rosamund writes her own story in this Sleeping Beauty redux — not waiting for a prince to show up and save the day. She sets out to break the curse that binds her on her own. The show stars AJ Bridel, Bruce Dow, Gabi Epstein, and Andrew Seok. Tickets here.
Sex T-Rex: Crime After Crime (After Crime)
The Dora Mavor Moore Award nominated Sex T-Rex crew return to Fringe with an updated version of their hit show. Known for their physical comedy, Crime After Crime (After Crime) presents a multi-generational story about the Stone Family in Crime City, USA, covering three periods of crime: a 1950s film noir scene, a 1970s style heist, and a 1990s buddy cop story. Tickets here.
Free Fringe
There’s a raft of free programming that will take place across three venues from July 2 to 14: the Fringe Patio at the Tranzac club, an all-new Speakeasy at the Annex Hotel, and the KidsFest Club at St. Volodymyr Institute.
The Fringe Patio is the hub and social heart of the Fringe Festival, with full food and bar service available.
Launch Party & Parade: July 2 at the Fringe Patio
It begins with an artist parade through the Annex hood, along with live music by Pan Fantasy. There will be free ice cream by QB Snax all evening at the Fringe Patio, along with samples and swag from Partake Brewing and Saulter Street Brewery.
24-Hour Playwrighting Contest Reading: July 7 at the Fringe Patio
You’ll be able to take in a live reading of a live reading of The Architecture of a Life, by playwright Margaret Legere, winner of the 23-Hour Playwriting Contest.
Free stuff at the Fringe Patio includes something for everyone:
- Totally Trivia hosted by magician Keith Brown and Jeopardy! champion Nam Nguyen;
- Live Band Karaoke from Good Enough Live Karaoke;
- Comedy Night featuring Ben Sosa Wright, Cassie Cao, Brendan D’Sousza, Meg Mackay and more;
- The 2024 Harold Awards;
- A Zine Workshop with Toronto Zine Library;
- The Indie Community Mixer;
- Games Nights with games provided by The Sword and Board;
- A multi-day Artisan Market;
- The Toronto Fringe Awards Night.
The Toronto Fringe Speakeasy inside the Annex Hotel offers a more intimate vibe, just beside the Fringe Patio. There will be exclusive programming that includes burlesque hosted by Força; an Indie Drag Night hosted by local drag king Coyote Ugly; and Live Music provided by Boutique Entertainment.
KidsFest Club takes place on the front lawn of St. Volodymyr Institute throughout the festival. Fun and welcoming, kids 12 and under and their families can play, enjoy arts and crafts, building blocks, costumes, puppets, face painting, and much more (including snacks). The KidsFest Club is available anytime, including before and after shows.
- Find more information, tickets and passes for sale [HERE].
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