Rachel Kennedy is the Executive Director of Toronto Fringe. Toronto Fringe’s Next Stage Festival runs October 16 – 27, 2024, at Buddies.
Toronto Fringe has been around since 1989 and has seen this city, its artists, and its audiences go through a lot of changes. It has launched success story after success story, from Kim’s Convenience to ‘da Kink in my Hair, to probably-whatever-the-coolest-thing you-saw-this-summer-was. Truly, nearly all of us still working in this sector have some sort of connection back to the Fringe.
But that’s an important and stark stipulation — those of us “still working”. I don’t need to reiterate why the past many years have been hell for arts workers. I don’t want to get into all the reasons why people have fled Toronto and its arts scene for “greener pastures” and greater promises of affordability. But for those who have managed to continue their creative practices, or who are looking to step back in as the dust begins to (maybe?) clear… I guess I’m here to try to share a bit about why I think your work is essential to Toronto and why you should keep making it. Please.
Toronto Theatre is packed with Festivals and Opportunities
We all have our favourite artist who could pull us out to see any show just by being involved. But how did you find your favourite artists in the first place? Theatre companies are always looking for talented performers, collaborators, and creators.
Outside the Fringe, there are so many places and people who want to meet you, hear about, and program new work. Whether it’s Buddies in Bad Times’ iconic Rhubarb Festival, the Paprika Festival (applications open now!), Tarragon’s Residency programs and Young Playwrights Unit, Aluna Theatre’s RUTAS Festival (on while I write this!), or the brand new What The Festival (and this is by no means an exhaustive list of the good good stuff happening in Festival Land here in Toronto) — there is truly something for everyone.
Not sure where you fit in? Reach out to the programming teams at the festival you’re interested in! People are generally cool and want to get to know you and your work. If they’re jerks or they ignore you, then that’s on them. On to the next person! But please don’t hold back from getting in touch if you have work that you think is ready for an audience. Let’s get you on stage!
Collaboration Is “So Hot Right Now”
Did I say that right? Listen — the most exciting thing happening in the city currently is this new energy behind collaborating and co-creating together. We have seen the struggles facing nearly every company as we navigate shoestring budgets and inflated costs of doing work, and we are seeing organizations of all sizes really leaning into pooling resources and looking at how we can work better together. It feels like the right time to be chatting about gaps in programming, shared volunteer pools, audience crossover, and co-working space. I’m confident this is the way forward, and the best path to opening back up more affordable and accessible cultural experiences for people managing to stay in this city. So, if you want to work with the Toronto Fringe… let us know!
Toronto Fringe Wants to Spotlight New Voices
Of course, we have our own Toronto Fringe Festival each July (July 2 – 13, 2025 to be exact), which provides super subsidized access to performance opportunities. The Fringe covers your theatre rental, technicians, box office, front of house, and major festival marketing needs, and is perhaps the most affordable way to get your work onto a professional stage in Toronto. Our mandate with this annual offering is to help pave a pathway to the stage for anyone with a story to tell — and to help create the opportunity for participating artists to profit from their work. Applications for the 2025 festival will open soon, so keep an eye on our website!
Our Next Stage Theatre Festival (coming to Buddies in Bad Times Theatre this month from October 16 – 27!) is smaller, curated by a jury, and aimed at elevating the selected artists and productions to the next stages of their careers and development. I mean come on, check out this lineup!
The Fringe also hosts two annual contests for new works: the New Play Contest, a juried contest for playwrights with a new, previously unproduced play, and the Adams Prize for Musical Theatre, a juried contest for composers/playwrights with a new, previously unproduced musical. Winners of both prizes receive a monetary bursary as well as a spot in the 2025 Toronto Fringe Festival. Learn more and apply HERE!
Finally, the Fringe, along with Buddies and many other local companies, participate in the Recommender Grants for Theatre Creators program through the OAC. If you’ve got a story you’re trying to develop, make sure you apply this fall.
So, What’s Next?
I hate even starting a section with that header – how am I supposed to know? I know we need to keep pushing forward with supporting artists, we need to keep talking and figuring out what gaps others are working to fill, and we need to keep finding those sparks of joy and connection that make all of this (gestures wildly around myself) worth it. Because it, your artistic practice, is worth it. But let’s maybe find ways of doing it together? Holding the weight for each other every once in a while, so that others can have a chance to rest?
I have no concrete solutions to offer here, but I think we should keep talking. Come out to our Indie Community Social coming up on Saturday, October 19, 12PM – 2PM at Buddies. Maybe we can figure it out together! And at the very least… there will be vegan croissants.