Sponsored by The Port Theatre

2023 Festival Guide

Fringe Tickets

• ALL PATRONS ARE REQUIRED TO PURCHASE A ONE-TIME $5.00 FRINGE FESTIVAL BUTTON TO SEE ANY SHOWS (available at the Fringe Hub and at the door). Proceeds support the operating costs of the festival
• In-person shows: $12.50^
• Double the Applause: $25^ Artists retain 100% of their box office revenues, so double up your single ticket price to show your support!
• Festival Pass: $60.00^ – See 5 shows for $60! Pass can be used for yourself, or bring along a friend!
• Artists receive 100% of their box office revenues; to protect artist income, all ticket sales are final.

^plus applicable fees

Shows at the Port Theatre

125 Front Street, Nanaimo

Outdoor Shows @ Black Rabbit Kitchen

Ducks | performed at Black Rabbit

David Ellis Heyman, Victoria

45 mins | 16+ swearing

Nanaimo’s Got Talent  | performed at Black Rabbit

A Penny A Sketch, Nanaimo

45 mins | all ages welcome

Live Music at the Black Rabbit Kitchen

New for 2023, Nanaimo Fringe welcomes Live Musicians as a regular feature of our Outdoor Stage programming at Black Rabbit Kitchen.

Sally and the Side Pieces

Nanaimo Clippers’ very own national anthem singer, Sarah Tomei, has reunited with highschool friends Gordon Sanrud and Jesse DeWispelaere (of Katch 22) in their latest creative venture: Sally & The Side Pieces. 

Sarah Tomei started singing lessons at the early age of 10 and has been singing and performing ever since. She has been in many musicals such as Hair, Fiddler on the Roof, Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Guys and Dolls. Sarah took a few years off performing when she had twin girls and then another daughter a couple years later. She started up again when she was asked to be the lead vocalist for a band called Katch 22. She left the band after a year  to start singing background harmonies from a band called Femme Fatales which she sings with presently. She decided she wanted to start her own band and asked her friends from Katch 22 to join her.  They are a new band but have been friends and joint performers since high school.

Gordon Sanrud is a former composing student who enjoys playing piano and writing music. Born and raised in Nanaimo BC no genre is off limits for this musician. He has been working with a couple local bands and is looking forward to playing live music again.

Jesse DeWispelaere is a 31 year old father of four beautiful children. He was born and raised on Vancouver Island. After fighting a decade and a half’s battle with addiction he found one thing that ultimately made a difference in his life, the life of his loved ones, and the society he grew up in… art. Through his facets of stand up comedy, music, and poetry he has learned that there truly is no problem that a laugh, a poem, and some rhythm can’t help carry! After just awakening to his calling he has found that he truly is the poet who didn’t know it.

James Vickers

Born and raised in Nanaimo, B.C., James’ heritage is Tsimshian, Heiltsuk, Haida, as well as the UK. James started playing guitar March of 2020. The first year of playing, he was mostly interested in power chords of rock. Eventually he discovered the late great Stevie Ray Vaughan and a whole new world opened up. Last summer James was show cased for youth in Blues at the Nanaimo Blues Festival. He opened for the legendary Jim Byrnes last December, Crystal Shawanda on June 1st and is competing in the FVBS International Blues Challenge on June 25th. The future is looking very bright for this thirteen year young, rising star.

Shel

Shel is a new-age folk singer-songwriter from Red Deer, Alberta who plays originals and re-creates classics on her ukulele. Being compared to Florence and Machine and taking inspiration from Alice Phoebe Lou, her soul-filled voice will take your breath away and replenish your spirit. She has performed at Disneyland, various venues and festivals in Alberta and British Columbia and busked around the world. To listen to Shel is an opportunity to bear your heart and break the rules.

Tami Nutting

Tami has been entertaining audiences big and small and folks of all ages for over 40 years all over BC, and has quickly become a local favourite of her home, Vancouver Island. With an enchanting set of original songs and stories blended with acoustic favourites: sing along from the 50s, 60s, and 70s to today.

“Amazing, touching, intimate, passionate,” are just a few words to describe her show. Tami, a girl and her guitar.

Reserving Tables for the Nanaimo Fringe Festival @ Black Rabbit Venue

We are pleased to offer dinner reservations for all performances happening at Black Rabbit. You can have a table in view of the performance where you can also enjoy a meal and beverages. You will be required to present your Fringe show ticket and Festival button in order to be seated in the licensed viewing area. Your $10 deposit will be applied to your final bill.

THIS RESERVATION IS FOR A MAX OF 1.5 HOURS which includes arriving half an hour before your show. There will be a 15-minute grace period after the show has concluded after which we ask that you please respect the following show’s reservation.  We are serving a special FRINGE FEST food and drink menu during the performances.

In order to reserve a table for the Black Rabbit Fringe events including ticketed live theatre shows and FREE music, please use the following link https://tinyurl.com/msbaerjm or call the restaurant directly at 250-591-5447. Everyone at the Fringe beer garden, which is the entire back patio of Black Rabbit Kitchen, must have a 2023 fringe button. There will also be first come first served seating, and Festival show seating located off the licensed patio.

Stand Up Comedy

Festival Wrap Karaoke Night

FREE | Black Rabbit Kitchen

Vote for your favourite 2023 Fringe show and celebrate alongside the ‘Pick of the Fringe’ winner at our Festival Wrap Karaoke event. To RSVP for this event, please email Festival Producer, Julia, at festival@pacificcoaststage.org with subject line: KARAOKE NIGHT RESERVATIONS. Please include your first and last name and how many people we can expect in your party.