A long-standing summer tradition in Montreal, the St-Ambroise Montreal Fringe Festival is making its return this summer following the COVID-19 pandemic leading to the major downsizing of last year’s festival to a few virtual events.
Known for pushing boundaries, limits and being bold in artistic practice, the St-Ambroise Montreal Fringe Festival is also one of the few festivals going bravely ahead this summer, noting that the Francofolies and Montreal International Jazz Festival have been pushed until the Fall, and the Just for Laughs Festival adopting a modified hybrid approach and embracing live-streaming.
“It’s going to feel a little different with reduced capacities in venues and safety protocols in place, but it’s still the FringeMTL we love and adore,” says MainLine Theatre’s Executive and Artistic Director, Amy Blackmore. “We are fully committed to diversity, community and artistic freedom. It’s the kind of festival where anyone can do anything. An experimental playground for artists and an environment where everyone is welcome.”
An addition to this year’s Fringe is the Fringebuzz Lab, the new FringeMTL podcast, released weekly starting May 25 on Tuesdays (French – hosted by Véronick Raymond) and Thursdays (English – hosted by Sarah Deshaies). The podcast can be found on iTunes and Spotify. The Fringebuzz Lab features an all-star lineup of alumni from the Fringe community including: Tranna Wintour, Maryline Chery, Sarah Berthiaume, Olivier Arteau, Frannie Holder (Random Recipe), Kahlil Ashanti, David Laurin, Patrick Goddard, Francine Grimaldi, Pat Donnelly, Mike Payette, Elsa Bolam, Alison Darcy, Rick Miller, Jocelyn Sioui, Johanna Nutter, Jamie O’Meara, Muriel De Zangroniz (Toxique Trottoir), Mado Lamotte, Jean-Philippe Baril Guérard, and festival founders Kris and Nick Morra.
Festival highlights
• Digital Fringe-For-All, June 1, on Facebook live and FringeTV.
• In-person performances. June 10-20. Five venues, 30 local companies, 154 performances.
• On-demand content available on FringeTV, June 1-20.
• Selection of This is Not a Fringe and Bouge d’ici Encore content on demand on FringeTV, June 1-20.
• Special events and livestream performances to be announced!
Tickets are now available at montrealfringe.ca and the full lineup of shows will be announced on June 1.
