5 THINGS AT FRINGE

Festival offers frivolity, fun and some great food, writes Jenn Sharp.

The annual PotashCorp Fringe Theatre and Street Festival has begun in the Broadway area and will continue until Aug. 12. Performers from around the world are in Saskatoon giving live shows in indoor venues, along with outdoor street busking. Parking spots are restricted to residents during the festival; either park downtown and walk, or ride your bike. There’s a secure bike valet on-site. Look on 25streettheatre.org for information on parking spots for disabled people. You can buy advance theatre tickets online or at the venue up to an hour before the show for same day purchases.

1.

Live theatre at an affordable price

The Fringe features talented and creative theatre performers in intimate settings. You’ll laugh out loud, maybe cry and undoubtedly be delighted by what’s onstage. At just $15 per show (with bulk, discounted tickets available for five shows or more) it’s a steal for live theatre produced by independent companies.

2.

International and local performers

There’s a hilarious Australian who explains what a year of turning inanimate objects into a phallic obsession was like, and a Brit playing various characters in a murder mystery set on the dementia ward. Many of the performers are Canadian; 11 companies and performers are from Saskatchewan. Check out the endearing (and hilariously inaccurate) re-telling of Saskatoon’s founding, or a musical spreading the word about the Flat Earth Society.

3.

Family-friendly theatre

While there’s plenty of shows not suitable for children, Fringe isn’t just for adults. Four shows are part of the Kids Fringe, while nine others are suitable for all ages. The Kids Fringe acts feature everything from an unbelievable magic show complete with balloon-swallowing, to dinosaur and frog adventures.

4.

Professional street buskers

A big part of the Fringe is the street busker performances. Broadway Avenue is closed to traffic on weekday evenings, and from noon to 10:30 p.m. on weekends and the holiday Monday. Buskers will alternate between two pitches: Broadway and 11th Street and Broadway and 10th Street. Watch everything from juggling, comedy and magic, to aerial acrobatics and circus performances.

5.

Street festival ... and food!

Broadway truly comes alive during the Fringe, with local businesses setting up outdoor booths and independent artisans selling handiwork, art, clothing, jewelry and more. There’s an International Artisan Market with one-of-a-kind global finds, while restaurants in the area offer food to go at great prices. Saskatoon’s best food vendors and food trucks will also be on-site.