Welcome to the Hamilton Fringe Festival website!

Applications for the 2010 Hamilton Fringe to be held July 15-25, 2010, are now available.

To download an application for the 2010 Hamilton Fringe Festival in pdf format please click here.

Applications for the 2010 Hamilton Fringe Playwriting Contest are now closed.  Thanks to everyone who applied - the result should be known by the beginning of April

Applications are coming in quickly for next year's festival...

Here is where we stand as of March 9, 2010 -

The following companies have been accepted into the 2010 Hamilton Fringe Festival:

Tethersend Productions, Toronto, Ontario
Make Art Productions, Hamilton, Ontario
Rupert Wates and Friends, NYC, USA
Bandler Corp, Dundas, Ontario
Riverslea Productions, Campbellville, ON
Unicorn Productions, Burlington, Ontario
The Shooting Eye, Oakville, Ontario
Apocryphal Productions, Toronto, Ontario
Mr. Froggy Theatre, Toronto, Ontario
Wild Sound Productions,Toronto, Ontario
Clip Clop Productions, Ancaster, Ontario
Nick Wallace Productions, Vineland, Ontario
Deodar Productions, Toronto, Ontario
Green Gang / EC05 Productions Inc., Hamilton, Ontario
Yet Another Law and Order Productions,Toronto, Ontario
Fish Stick Productions, Toronto, Ontario
Red Pocket Collective, Toronto, Ontario
Theatre Erebus Inc, Hamilton, Ontario
Mark Shyzer, Toronto, Ontario
Goodstock Inc. Hamilton, Ontario
Metaphysical Theatre, Toronto, Ontario

Still open are:

1 x Local 60 minute slot

10 x National 60 minute slots

3  x International 60 minute slots

1 x 90 minute slots is being held in reserve until the results of the Playwrite's Contest are known in March.

We are also still accepting BRING YOUR OWN VENUE applications

As of March 18, 2010 any unused National or International slots will be released to local companies...

Applications are accepted on a first come first served basis, so apply soon to ensure that you get in...

We are looking forward to seeing everyone at next year's Fringe!

Fringe News 2010
 

March 9 / 10

Theatre Aquarius and Hamilton Fringe Festival to Join Forces

Hamilton, ON March 9, 2010– Theatre Aquarius and the Hamilton Fringe Festival are proud to announce a coalition that will see Theatre Aquarius co-produce the 2010 Hamilton Fringe Festival.

“Since the inception of the Hamilton Fringe Festival Theatre Aquarius has played a role in the annual event. I’m proud to continue and build upon this tradition,” says Aquarius’ Artistic Director Ron Ulrich, “We are very excited about the possible audience and artistic developments that this coalition presents. It is our hope that the two organizations working together can help leverage new visions and voices of theatre in this region.”

Hamilton Fringe Festival President Brian Morton sees this new alliance as key to the long-term survival of the Fringe in Hamilton.  According to Morton - “Theatre Aquarius has been on board since the very start in 2003 - this new agreement therefore is a logical continuation of what has already been an ongoing partnership”.

The coalition will build upon 2009’s initiatives, which saw the Hamilton Fringe return to the Dofasco Centre as a venue, the Festival launch event at Aquarius and a Best of Fringe holdover as part of the Stagewrite subscription series. In addition to these developments, the newly announced coalition between the two organizations will have Aquarius provide office space, support for grant writing, marketing and accounting, online box office services, and a Festival Producer.

The Fringe Festival is a non-juried and uncensored Festival that sees 100% of box office revenue returned to the artists. The 2009 fringe saw 28 productions participate and almost $31,000 returned to artists. The 2010 Hamilton Fringe Festival runs July 15 – 25 in various locations in the downtown area. For more information email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

The Theatre Aquarius 2009-2010 Season is generously sponsored by Ron and Donna Patterson. Theatre Aquarius also acknowledges the support of the Ontario Arts Council and Canada Council for the Arts, and Founding Partner, ArcelorMittal Dofasco Inc.

The Hamilton Fringe Festival acknowledges the support of the Ontario Arts Council, The City of Hamilton and the Department of Canadian Heritage; we are proud members of the Canadian Association of Fringe Festivals, and adhere to the four guiding principles of the Fringe Festival mandate.

For further information please contact, Luke Brown, Festival Producer at 905.522.7815, ext 232.

February 16 / 10

The Hamilton Fringe is pleased to announce that it has recieved an operating grant from the Theatre Section of the Ontario Arts Council.  The OAC is the arms length funding body that assists artists and non profit arts organizations on behalf of the Government of Ontario. 

Also just a last reminder that applications for the Hamilton Fringe's Playwrite's contest end on Feb 25, 2010.   The response so far has been great, and the jury will soon be evaluating the submissions.   There is still lots of time to apply.

January 15 / 10

Thanks to everyone who came out to the Hamilton's Fringe's AGM.  Lots was accomplished and we also had a good time doing it.  Thanks to Ron and Judith at Artword Artbar for the food and hospitality.

We are planning another Volunteer Appreciation Night for mid April.  Drop us a line if you are a past volunteer, or if you would like to get involved with next year!

December 15 / 09

The AGM for the Hamilton Festival Theatre Company will be Sunday January 10 at 6:00 pm.

Location is the Artword ArtBar at 15 Colbourne Street, Hamilton (One block south of Barton off James Street).

Reports from 2009 will be presented and light refreshments will be served.

Message from the President

I just wanted to take a quick moment to thank everyone, our staff, artists, volunteers and the fabulous supporters and sponsors for all that was done to make the 2009 Hamilton Fringe our best one ever!

Almost 5000 people attended and just under $31,000 was returned to our artists...  Also two of our productions this year have been selected for a remount at Theatre Aquarius in October, where they will find a completely different audience and will spread their wings to further horizons..

Plans are already afoot for next year.  Please watch this space for updates as things develop.

In the meanwhile, it is now time to start thinking about getting involved in the next year's edition of the festival.  Is there a play you always wanted to do?  A part you always wanted to act?  Perhaps you have been carrying around that great idea for a play, but never had the chance to actually write it... Well now is the time to plan for your own production in the Hamilton Fringe next July.

Please let me know if there is anyway that I can help... Feel free to drop me a line at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Light and life...

Brian Morton
President
Hamilton Fringe Festival