Fringe Mascots Ride Again

Didi and Gogo, our beloved Fringe mascots, have worn themselves out with too much hard Fringing and were sadly in need of a makeover after the excesses of last year’s festival. Our good friend and papercrafter extraordinaireVinny stepped in to give them a new look for Fringe 2010. Pictured above is the new prototype for the Gogo papercraft. You will be able to print him off, fold him up and stick him together to create your own Gogo at home!  We’ll post more about the work in progress on the revitalised mascots soon.

You can see more of Vinny’s handiwork at his website.

Victoria Fringe Festival Poster – Sneak Peek

August 26 – Sept 5, 2010. Shows in 17 different venues across Victoria.

Here is a sneak peek at the poster image for the 24th Annual Victoria Fringe Theatre Festival. Get ready for a wild ride of theatrical creativity, as 65 performing companies from all around the world descend on Victoria for 11 glorious, random days of comedy, drama, spoken word, dance and more. It’s Fringe time! – Well nearly, just one month away.  Keep an eye out for Fringe program guides, out August 5 and the Fringe website (www.victoriafringe.com), which launches August 3. See you on the Fringe!

Volunteer or Billet An Artist for Victoria Fringe

Fringe Fest 2010 – We are currently recruiting for our 400-strong team of awesome volunteers who power the Fringe (August 26-Sept 5)! Volunteering is fun, easy and a great way to see shows for free! If you are keen to volunteer for Fringe,  then fill out this quick form with your contact info and we’ll be in touch later on in July with info about Volunteer Orientation (usually mid-August). Volunteer me now! 

Questions about how this volunteer caper works? Find more info here. Or Email or phone us (250-383-2663).

Don’t have time to volunteer? Find out about billeting a visiting Fringe Artist. Click here.

Facelift in Progress

The Intrepid Theatre Club is having new risers installed (those tiered levels that the seats sit on so you get a good view of the stage). There has been lots of drilling and banging and discussions about dimensions taking place as the chaps from the Opera shop build the new risers into our black box space.  

Why new risers you ask? Because these fancy new risers will give you a much clearer view of the stage (they are higher) and they have wheels and can be moved, so the risers can be collapsed to convert into a rehearsal space. Pretty cool huh?

Here is a photo blog of the progress so far from the empty theatre to the beginnings of what looks like a theatre!

               

   

    

And hey Presto! New risers!

Just like that.

The railings on the side hold them in place and you can take them off to wheel the stairs into one unit.

B.C. Govt Cuts Gaming Grants For Festivals

A portrait of Premier Gordon Campbell on display at the Intrepid Theatre Club as part of 'Solo - A Portrait Show' to coincide with Uno Fest: Canada's Singular Live Theatre Event

On Thurs May 28, in the midst of Uno Fest: Canada’s Singular Live Theatre Event, the BC government announced some further bad news for non-profit arts and music festivals. Gaming funding for festivals has now been cut, on the basis that many festivals are’commercial enterprises that charge admission’.  Intrepid Theatre is one of many festivals in Victoria that will no longer recieve gaming funding. Intrepid’s funding allows it to keep admission costs low ($9 for Fringe Shows, $15 for Uno Fest shows) and include Pay-What-You-Can shows in Uno Fest to keep live independent theatre affordable and accessible for all. It is not a commercial enterprise and operates as a non-profit, and like many festivals, charges ticket prices to cover costs.

Read More>> Intrepid Theatre’s General Manager Ian Case speaks out against the cuts in the Times Colonist on Thurs May 28.

Uno Fest Q&A – Chris Gibbs

Uno Fest & Fringe Fav Chris Gibbs returned to Victoria for his opening performance last night with yet another sell-out crowd for his perennial favourite, the Power of Ignorance. This brilliant spoof of self-help books never fails to draw a crowd in Victoria. Chris is also premiering his brand new show, Like Father, Like Son? Sorry. this week at Uno Fest and chats to Intrepid Theatre’s Sammie Gough about becoming a father.

1. Give us your movie pitch for your new show (Like Father, Like Son)

You’ll Believe A Man Can Cry! Be afraid. Be very afraid.

 2. How has becoming a dad changed you?

I tend to cry at parts of movies I wouldn’t have expected – like when I hear ‘Hakuna Matata’ in the Lion King. They took care of that little boy when his dad was gone!

 3. You’re back for Uno Fest again. What is it about Victoria that has brought you back?

I’ve enjoyed every trip here, and Intrepid Theatre very clearly wants everyone to have a good time. 

 4. What is your best self-help advice for unsure and shy audience members?  

No matter how funny you think it might be, don’t make jokes about being a psychopath until people know you well enough to know you’re joking.

 5. How do you do those backflips?!

I did a backflip?!?!?

6. You wrote the Power of Ignorance with TJ Dawe, how did you come to collaborate with TJ?

TJ had the idea to do a show about a motivational speaker who’s an imbecile, and told me he thought I’d be perfect to play the part. I was very hurt.

 

Uno Fest 3-Word Reviews

We have recieved some great 3-word reviews of shows at Uno Fest so far. Here are the randomly drawn Reviews of the Day for this weekend:

Gunpowder – Phoxy, Phony & Phantastic

Ducks on the Moon -  Brave illuminating storytelling

Ducks on the Moon - Poignant Moving Brave

Limbo - Provocative thought humour

Want to write a witty 3-word review? (You could win ticket prizes!) After every show, we encourage you to turn ON your cell phones and text (to: 250 217 9563), or tweet a three-word review (hashtag #unofest), or post your review on our facebook page. All reviews will go into the draw for daily ticket prizes!

See IntrepidTheatre’s Twitter Feed

Return to Uno Fest website

Uno Fest Q&A

Johnnie Walker talks about growing up ginger

Up-and-coming young Toronto performer Johnnie Walker is just 25 years old and has written and produced 10 plays. He is a busy guy – he is the founder of Nobody’s Business Theatre, a contributor for popular Toronto Blog Torontoist.com, a member of Canada’s only all-male burlesque troupe Boylesque TO and a member of The Upstarts, Theatre Passe Muraille’s new Creator’s Unit. His new show Redheaded Stepchild will make its world premiere at Uno Fest.

1. Give us your movie pitch for your show. “In a world where Gingers are hated and feared…”  Just kidding.  How about, it’s Welcome to the Dollhouse meets that Quiz Kid from Magnolia with a dash of Gilda and a light dusting of Gilbert & Sullivan?

Early Bird Tickets End May 13!

The Art of Re-Gifting – An Evening to Inspire Support of the Arts

Thursday May 27, 7pm, at Crystal Gardens (713 Douglas St)

$50 (til May 13) / $75 regular. Buy tickets online or in person/by phone at the Belfry Box Office (250-385-6815)

This gala fundraiser is a celebration showcasing Victoria’s diverse arts community. Early-bird tickets for this cabaret evening and fundraiser are just $50 and are on sale til 10pm on Thurs May 13. Be sure to order your tickets before the deadline expires! BUY TICKETS NOW>>

Also, artist Carey Newman is generously creating extra small jewelery pieces, including a pendant and silver cuff, in addition to a beautiful mask for the art auction. These are specially commissioned one-of-a-kind pieces. See Carey’s work.

Read more>>

An interview with Cakewalk performer Jen Wilcox

Welcome to the Uno Fest Carnival!

Talented young Victoria performer Jen Wilcox is a long-time member of Atomic Vaudeville and is known for her hilarious comedic monologues. She is stepping into the world of solo theatre with her first full-length writing and performing debut in Cakewalk at Uno Fest this year. Jen talked to Intrepid Theatre’s Sammie Gough about her childhood aspirations to become a Carnie. 

 

Give us your movie pitch for your show

In a time when carnivals don’t travel to small towns… In a land where fathers are carnies… The fate of Meadowvale Elementary School’s popularity lies in the hands of one girl. How will she pull it off? It’s in her blood – Jen Wilcox, age 12, is here to throw the most kick-ass carnival imaginable.