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How To Fringe

1. Choose Your Shows

There are 72 international performing companies in this year’s Fringe, most of them are doing six performances each over the 11 day festival. Browse Shows by Venue, or use the Daily Schedule to see what’s on when you’re available. Also, check out Special Events for previews, one-night-only shows, Fringe-ing for families, aprez-Fringe parties and more – many of these events are FREE!

2. Get a Visa Button – $5

FAQ:  Do I have to buy a Visa Button? Yes. Intrepid Theatre returns all the ticket money to the artists, so this is how we raise the money to put the festival on. (It costs about $250,000 to put on the Fringe, and only about $20,000 of this comes from Visa Button revenue – the rest is year-round fundraising!)

ALL TICKET HOLDERS 13+ YEARS MUST HAVE A FRINGE VISA BUTTON.
Show it whenever you enter a Fringe venue. You need a button, and a ticket, to see a show. Buttons are available for sale at any Fringe Venue one hour before showtime, and at the Ticket Rocket’s Fringe Central (1609 Blanshard).

OPENING NIGHT SALE: Buttons are 2-for-$5 on August 25 at any venue, with ticket purchase to an opening night show.

3. Get Your Tickets

View Tickets and Passes for details on how to buy tickets, purchase Fringe Munch Cards, or buy discount 10-show Frequent Fringer Passes! Tickets are available in advance and at the door.

4. Love Your Lineup

For popular shows, you might have to line-up if you don’t have advance tickets. This is a normal and healthy part of Fringe-ing. Take this opportunity to ask the people around you what they’ve seen that’s good.

5. Know the Four Fringe Rules!

1. You must have a ticket and a Fringe Visa Button to enter a Fringe Venue. (See the Tickets & Passes for details)
2. NO LATECOMERS – Fringe shows start on time. If the doors are closed when you arrive, we cannot let you in, even if you have a ticket.
3. All ticket sales are final. No exchanges or refunds unless show is canceled.
4. CASH ONLY or passes for tickets at the door.

6. Contribute to the Fringe Buzz

The Fringe is all about word of mouth. So if you want to read reviews and tell everyone about your must-see shows, you can:

• Read and write reviews on the Craig Online forum.
• Follow the Fringe on Twitter
• Check out the Times-Colonist’s Fringe coverage, reviews, articles and festival blog – COMING SOON!
• Read Monday Magazine’s Fringe reviews and articles – COMING SOON!
• See Culture Vulture’s Fringe reviews – they’re reviewing all 72 shows!
• Listen to artist interviews on CFUV 101.9 FM and Village 900 – COMING SOON!
• Write about shows on your own blog and drop us a line!

7. Take the Survey, in line or online!

The friendly fringe survey crew would like to know what you think about the fringe! This helps us improve the festival, get to know our audience and inform our sponsors and funders about the importance of the Fringe to our community. Please help us by taking the survey (it passes the time while you stand in line).

Fringe for Kids

• We recommend the free FringeKids Fest on August 27 in Market Square for families and Fringers under 12 years.
• Most ticketed shows at the Fringe are adult-oriented, unless noted. Aladdin the Secret Voyage and The Magic Soup Stone (Venue 3) are specifically suitable for young children and families.
• Children 12 and under do not need a Fringe Visa Button.
• Performers include suitability ratings/warnings in their show descriptions.
• Shows rated ALL AGES may not be suitable for young children.
• Performers have the right to enforce an ADULTS ONLY or 14+ rating.
• Small children and babes-in-arms require tickets, and will not be admitted at Adults Only events.
• Minors may not be admitted to licensed Venues 2.