All performing artists are invited to apply to the 13th annual Nanaimo Fringe Festival!
Festival Dates: August 10th – 20th, 2023
Application deadline ($30 fee due): March 31st, 2023
Lottery winners announced: April 2nd, 2023
Participation fee ($220 for regular Fringe categories, each with 6 shows; $50 for Stand-up Comedians, each with 1 show) due from lottery winners: April 10th, 2023
Full Nanaimo Fringe Festival information for prospective artists can be found here.
Lottery Selection Categories:
Local (5)
National (3)
International (2)
Cultural (1)
NEW for 2023– Stand-up Comedy**
Produced by Peter Hudson
Stand-up Comedy (4)
** Lottery selected Stand-up Comedians will each headline a late night venue on the following dates: August 11th, 12th, 18th & 19th, supported by curated local warm-up acts. As each Comedian headlines for just one-night-only, the participation fee is reduced to $50 CAD (plus $30 lottery application fee). Stand-up Comedians receive 100% of their Box Office revenues, less honoraria (totalling no more than $100) for their local warm-up acts.
2023 Artist Sponsorships
Please note: Stand-up Comedians are not eligible as these bursaries are designed to reduce the significantly larger financial barrier faced by Fringe artists in all other categories.
Nanaimo Fringe presenters, Pacific Coast Stage Co., are committed to unbounded artistic freedom and the elevation of marginalized perspectives through the dedication of one Cultural Artist sponsorship and one Indigenous Artist sponsorship, covering the full $250 application and participation fee for each recipient. Please indicate if you/your group wish to be considered for either of these bursaries in the Artist Application Form.
Pacific Coast Stage Co. has been dedicated to nurturing Nanaimo’s emerging and established artists for over a decade, connecting them with the rich community of touring acts on the thriving Canadian Fringe circuit. Modelled after the iconic Edinburgh Fringe, we are: theatre, dance, spoken word, drag, stand-up comedy and more — so join us in our 12th year celebrating unbounded artistic expression right here in your own backyard!
“We are delighted to be welcoming internationally touring artists back to the Nanaimo Fringe after a two year hiatus. Not only does this present an exciting lineup feature for our audiences, but it also offers an incredible opportunity for emerging local talent to expand their creative networks throughout Canada and beyond!” – Bryony Dixon, Artistic Managing Producer.
Pacific Coast Stage Co. is a vibrant and inclusive professional mid-Island theatre company. Recent growth has enabled our continued commitment to improved festival access for underserved regional performing artists. This year we welcome Nabil Sayes as the recipient of our inaugural Cultural Artist Bursary, and Randy Humchitt from ‘Child of a Hoodlum’ as beneficiary of our third annual Indigenous Artist Bursary (photo and bio below).
The 2022 Fringe lineup includes 5 local Nanaimo acts and a Lantzville based theatre company, alongside touring performing artists from Victoria, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Washington (Flora Le in Sadec 1965: A Love Story, photo above) and San Francisco. Each artist/company enjoys a six show run at one of four festival venues in Downtown Nanaimo: The Port Theatre Mainstage & Lobby; The OV Arts Centre; and our Gallery Row Outdoor Stage.
Experience LIVE events again this summer:
Get a taste for what’s in store at the free Fringe Preview Night (Port Theatre, August 11th).
Catch roaming performers at the Nanaimo Night Market (August 11th & 18th).
Rub shoulders with artists by joining other Fringe events like the Silent Disco & Karaoke Wrap Party each festival weekend.
Visit the Festival Hub in the Old City Quarter for Fringe buttons, show tickets, and merch.
Take a load off at the Stage Craft Beer Garden (adjacent to the Gallery Row Outdoor Stage each festival weekend).
Fringe takes place August 11-21st, 2022. For full artist and show descriptions visit: nanaimofringe.com. There’s still time to sign-up online for volunteer opportunities and keep up-to-date with the latest news and information by following Nanaimo Fringe Festival on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
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Randy Humchitt: 2022 Pacific Coast Stage Co. Indigenous Artist Bursary Recipient
Randy is thrilled to join the summer Fringe fun with his dazzling director and charismatic castmates to bring you “Seven for a Secret”! Randy dove feet first into community theatre in 2014 and has been involved in over fifteen productions in various acting and tech roles since. He credits the good people at Portal Players, Nanaimo Theatre Group, Bard to Broadway, Yellowpoint Drama Group, and Western Edge for guiding and supporting his growth, both on and off the stage. It has been life changing. Recent theatre credits include playing the role of Jason in “In a World Created by a Drunken God” (Western Edge), understudy as the Narrator in “Every Brilliant Thing” (Nanaimo Theatre Group), Dylan Ellington in “The Shadow World” (Western Edge), and Algernon Moncrieff in “The Importance of Being Earnest” (Yellowpoint Drama Group).
Randy is the son of Garth Humchitt (Heiltsuk Nation, Bella Bella, BC) and Sandi Leblanc (Sagkeeng Nation, Pine Falls, Manitoba). His Grandparents are Lester and Marina Humchitt (Heiltsuk Nation, Bella Bella, BC), Lisa Wilson (Sagkeeng Nation, Pine Falls, Manitoba) and Leonard Leblanc (Acadian, Yarmouth, Nova Scotia). He is grateful for the opportunity to be a humble representative of the large pool of Indigenous talent on the traditional territories of the Snuneymuxw, Snaw-Na-As, and Stz’uminus peoples, and the Mid-Island Metis
Nanaimo Fringe Festival 