Artists to Watch at the Toronto Fringe
From seasoned theatre vets to talented newcomers, here are some artists guaranteed to generate buzz — and lineups
Are you ready for Toronto’s Indie Theatre SuperBowl, FIFA or whatever other sports comp you can think of?
The Toronto Fringe kicks off (see what I did there?) June 30 and for the following 12 days is determined to make you laugh, cry, think, feel, and in the end be grateful your venue has air-conditioning. There are 123 shows, so even if you’re Derrick Chua (whom I’m frequently mistaken for, perhaps because we both wear a lot of black) you won’t be able to see every show.
To help you out, here’s a list of artists who have done solid work in the past. Keep in mind, though, that the Fringe is all about discovery, so make sure to add some unknown entitles into your schedule. Some of my favourite Fringe memories have happened that way.
Once the fest begins, I’ll be part of the Toronto Star’s Fringe review team (the review hub should be up July 1). I’ll also be contributing a few comedy-related Fringe reviews to Parton and Pearl.
As per last year, if I see anything else I’ll review it here. I’ll also likely write up a mid-fest report featuring any news I hear about during the ultra busy opening week. I’m curious to see how the Fringe hub, which seemed pretty cramped and underused last year, does. I also want to know what people think of the $19 general ticket price (daily discount tix, if available, are $14).
You can find out more about the shows and other Fringe stuff here.
Who: Ruth Goodwin and Liz Johnston
What: Writers/co-stars, You Choose: An Improvised Murder Mystery
Where: Tarragon Mainspace
With the popularity of the Knives Out films and Kenneth Branagh’s Agatha Christie remakes, mysteries are hotter than ever. Now Ruth Goodwin and Liz Johnston, the gut-bustingly funny creators of Howland Theatre Co.’s big improvised Fringe farce Entrances and Exits are back with their spin on the genre.
You Choose: An Improvised Murder Mystery is exactly what it sounds like. There’s a murder (or two), a bunch of suspects — played by a rotating group of the city’s funniest folks, like Second City alums Conor Bradbury, Brandon Hackett, Paloma Nuñez, Sharjil Rasool, Christian Smith, as well as the writers themselves — and the audience gets to choose who the murder is.
Will the characters figure it out? And will the audience die laughing before they do? See info here.
Who: Alice Fox Lundy
What: Director, Little One
Where: The Burroughs Building
Director Lundy burst onto the theatre scene last year with two powerful plays, the stylish expressionistic drama The Adding Machine (at the Toronto Fringe) and the tense historical thriller A Question of Character (remounted after its successful Hamilton Fringe staging).
Now she takes on Hannah Moscovitch’s (Interview with a Vampire) 2011 play about two adopted siblings’ complex, psychologically twisted bond. Expect to be properly spooked by this chiller, performed by Izzi Nagel and Wayne Burns in a venue that feels appropriately steeped in history. See info here.
Who: Srutika Sabu
What: Writer/performer, 1 Santosh Santosh 2 Go: Live at Grind-Con!
Where: Sweet Action Theatre
One of the biggest Fringe surprises of 2024 was medicine-grad-turned-clown Sabu, whose awkward, middle-aged South Asian software engineer/brown uncle alter ego Santosh (nicknamed “Tosh”) was simultaneously cringeworthy and adorable.