With a record 100,000 people expected before the curtains close Aug. 21, Edmonton Fringe founder Brian Paisley said it’s the uncensored performances that keeps both artists and theatre-lovers coming back for more.
"It says to the artists the same thing I said to them 30 years ago, bring what you want to do," said Paisley. "Let’s see if there’s an audience out there who wants to see it."
Since its inception in 1982, Paisley has seen the festival grow exponentially but never lose the hands-off attitude he had towards artist’s performances. Something Bremner Duthie truly appreciates.
His dark comedy, ‘33: A Kabarett,’ takes place in Germany at the height of Hitler’s power, when the infamous Führer began to censor theatre productions.
Duthie plays a man who performs all of his troupe’s works one at a time by himself, now that his troupe has been taken to concentration camps.
"I don’t wanna be too heavy on the message because there’s a lot of entertainment there," Duthie said of his work, "but if anything it’s be careful when you start censoring culture, it’s kind of a rocky road."
Fringe Theatre Adventures doesn’t censor, judge or curate performers in any way, something executive director Julian Mayne is proud of.
"We keep an open forum to allow people to express themselves," Mayne said. "That very key is why it works and why it continues to work."
Having performed at Fringe festivals across the world, Duthie said Edmonton Fringe performers are top notch.
"It’s getting a lot more professional in terms of the quality of work that I’m seeing," Duthie said. "People are really taking time with their shows and bring pieces that they’ve spent months or years developing."
The Edmonton Fringe Festival itself spent many years developing. Paisley said the 10 years before his departure in 1992 was about establishing the festival’s reputation and creating a core audience.
Making it to 30 years is a milestone both Paisley and Mayne are proud to share with the city that demanded it.
"It’s a real feather in its cap," Mayne said, "It’s another indicator of how this festival is supported by the community, by the artists, by the businesses, by the funders and by the patrons."
Edmonton Fringe Festival ends Aug. 21. For programming information visit www.fringetheatreadventures.ca.
matthew.dykstra@sunmedia.ca
@SunMattDykstra
