Welcome to the web page for the 2009 Hamilton Fringe Festival.
The Hamilton Fringe Festival – July 16 to 26, 2009
The Hamilton Fringe Festival, founded in October 2002, is a 10-day un-juried theatre festival that happens every summer in downtown Hamilton, Ontario. Fringe Festivals have become one of the most popular and most successful theatre events in the world since the first one was launched in Edinburgh Scotland in 1947. They are worthwhile in several ways, but most particularly because they continue to focus on supporting new and emerging artists presenting innovative theatre to wider audiences. This commitment to the "Fringe" philosophy allows virtually any size company, even single individuals, to participate representing an unequalled opportunity for performing artists of all disciplines.
The Hamilton Fringe is a proud member of the Canadian Association of Fringe Festivals.
The Fringe is also the home to new writers. The Hamilton Festival holds an annual playwriting competition. This years’ prize is a slot in the 2009 festival plus $250.00 in cash. Forms to apply to the competition are here (PDF). Last years winner was David B. Fraser with his script Gerald Hilroy’s Guide To The Art Of Seduction. It played to great houses and critical acclaim last August. Next year, it could be your play!
The festival itself is in a period of transition right now, but we have every confidence that the 2009 Fringe Festival will be our best one ever. I hope very much that you may a part of the Fringe, either as a supporter, a participant, an audience member, and/or as a volunteer… The Hamilton Fringe is an inclusive art event, so the choice on how to be involved is entirely up to you. But I do hope that you will join us...
We'd love to hear from you... Feel free to drop me a line at president [at] hamiltonfringe.ca.
Brian Morton
President
Hamilton Fringe Festival
Apply for 2009
Theatre Company Applications for the 2009 festival are now available in PDF format. To download this document please click here (PDF).
To see what happened, and who performed at the 2008 festival, please see last years' web pages.
What is a Fringe Festival?
Presenting live theatre in an informal, accessible and inexpensive environment, the Fringe strives to break down traditional boundaries between audience and artist, encouraging open dialogue between theatre-goers and theatre-creators. Audiences are invited to experience the work of seasoned veterans alongside that of emerging artists. Local, national and international performing companies benefit from working together and learning from each other in a vibrant and exciting festival atmosphere. In order to stimulate artistic innovation, applications for participation in Fringe Festivals are accepted on a non-juried lottery.
History
Fringe Festivals have been entertaining audiences for over 50 years, beginning with the original festival in Edinburgh, Scotland. In time these artistic celebrations spread around the world. Over the past 19 years, the Fringe movement in Canada has grown to 18 festivals; we now enjoy the presence of more 'Fringes' than any other country. The Edmonton Fringe Festival is Canada's oldest and biggest.
Other Canadian Fringe Festivals.
Four Governing Principles of the Fringe
- The event must be non-juried. All entrants are chosen using a, "first-come, first-served basis" or similarly random process.
- 100% of ticket revenues must be returned to the artists.
- There must be artistic freedom - no censorship is allowed.
- There must be accessibility for all companies - i.e. application fees must be small enough to allow all companies to participate.
Application Procedure
Read about the Hamilton Fringe Policies for participating theatre companies.
