A message from Fringe Theatre:
The Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival has evolved over time to include more than comedy and drama. It's also an opportunity to deepen your cultural understanding of the place where we live, as well as a chance to appreciate musical talent.
Pêhonân, which means meeting place in nêhiyawêwin, started in 2021. "It was created in response to a growing need for Indigenous representation within the festival, and it was a way to honour Treaty 6 territory by centering the voices of First Nations and artists," said MJ Belcourt, the Fringe's Indigenous director since 2023.
"Today, in my perspective, has become more intentional and rooted in cultural teachings," she said. "So we have storytelling, we have self-guided educational activities, interactive programming from the tipi. There's maybe a little more meaningful engagement with the gathering spaces, to invite both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to come and visit these spaces."
This year, pêhonân has two tipis. Programming includes a pre-contact map of the nations that were here before Europeans arrived, a journal attendees can write in, and story-based activities for KidsFringe, such as Belcourt's adaptation of how Maskwa (or Bear) lost his tail.
"I'm hoping that pêhonân adds that spiritual and cultural grounding to the celebration here at the Fringe," Belcourt said.
Fringe's music series has also evolved over time. "In the beginning, it was a lot of smaller, 'in the wine tent' solo artists," said Lindsey Walker, the Fringe's music series curator. "And now we have a full stage where we program big bands."
In addition to showcasing local artists such as Bad Buddy, Ben Sures, and Kaeley Jade on the ATB Stage, Fringe has also worked in collaboration with Music Yukon to bring in artists from the North, after a successful pilot last year.
"This year, I tried to really focus on independent, incredible, genre-non-specific artists," Walker said of the series, made possible by Artist Spotlight Sponsor CKUA. "So we have everything from folk to some real intense kinds of rock. We have some hip-hop, we have funk, we have all sorts of different types of music to appeal to everyone."
Both pêhonân and the Music Series are free to attend, and start at the same time as the rest of the festival on Aug. 14.
This year's Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival runs from Aug. 14 to 24. Festival Guides are on sale now, and ticket sales are open.